We’re seeing some good movement this year on differentiated pay for high need subject areas. It may include elementary school teachers with a math endorsement–we don’t have enough of ‘em.

So far, though, legislative results are a mixed bag. There’s a good deal of what we want, and a steady supply of things we don’t. It makes it harder to focus on the important problems, and limits our effectiveness. It’s what happens when 53 people think they were elected to the school board instead of the legislature. (See http://www.dynamicrange.org/2006/08/the_first_law_3.html )

Note that in some districts they use programs where a parent can look a secondary student’s grades up online.

1) Work STRONGLY for class size reduction in secondary schools. I think it’s as big or even bigger a problem there than elementaries.

2)Pay science and math teachers extra and those who agree to work in low-income area schools.

3)keep tutoring programs strong at such schools

4)keep requiring the USBT, but also develop strong training programs within the schools for them

5)Focus on the core curriculum–4 years of English, 3 or 4 of math, and so on, but also leave room for exploratory options in careers such as business, construction, and so on. Don’t force out such electives as those that have to do with Home Ec or farming (in some respects those are just as important for some people as anything).

6)Develop many internship programs where students can gain real-world experience in a job field.

7)Have many different career representatives come in and share their experiences in the job fields.

8)Develop extensive public school/business partnerships. Develop MANY sorts of mentoring programs.

9)CONTINUALLY focus on student achievment in the media, in the legislature, and so on. Too often the negative gets emphasized. Business programs like the Keys to success program could be developed too.

10)Develop technology centers around the state so students can get more ample opportunities and choices.

11)Get engineers, physicists, and so on involved with things like the math and science curriculum. Often, they have hands-on things and availablity to other resources that others don’t have.

12)Have safety be a major issue–e.g. ample police patrols, a police officer on duty at all times, interaction between law enforcement and students.

13)STOP bringing so many politics into the classroom. Political agendas by any side detract from teaching and learning.

14)Have certain entities establish specialized schools where one can go for specialized job training in a certain field.

15) CONTINUE THE CONCURRENT ENROLLMENT program–this is a very good program that DOES prepare students for college and lets them get a leg up at a lower cost than tuition should be. There should be no question on funding this one.

16)continue funding AP programs–Utah has one of the highest participation rates and passing rates in the nation (the education bashers will never tell you that though).

17)stop the discussion about vouchers and other political agendas. Let’s get down to some REAL solutions without having to worry about if they fit some political philosophy or not. Doing such takes focus away from working for REAL solutions to problems.

Just a few things I thought about.
And to Natalie, yes I am.