Modernizing and strengthening our public schools
Information and Facts
A record 52.2 million children are enrolled in our elementary and secondary schools during the 1997-98 academic year, but the more important fact is that we will break that record each year for the next ten years. We must take an active role to ensure that schools are environments in which all of these children can reach first-class academic standards. The schools and teachers facing the most difficult challenges in helping their students learn to high standards are found in America's cities. Across America, schools and communities are adopting a "no excuses" approach towards poor performance. Urban school superintendents are leading promising efforts to turn around low-performing schools.
Building and modernizing more schools to address overcrowding and reducing class size can help ensure that every student gets the individual attention he or she needs to excel. In addition, technology promises new ways of reaching and teaching all students. To prepare students for the workplace of the 21st century, we must help them learn how to use computers and other tools of the information age. Many students can benefit from schools being open after regular hours and in the summer as safe havens for learning. Community support is a key ingredient in revitalizing our public schools and in expanding them into community learning centers.
Eighty-seven percent of the general public favor keeping schools open after school for use by school children with adult supervision, and 90 percent of parents want school-based extended learning programs.
| Ideas for and Examples of Events and Partnerships |
Plan a forum to analyze the need to build, repair and modernize your local school buildings. According to a recent General Accounting Office study, an estimated $112 billion is needed to build new schools and modernize old ones. With an eye to the future, education, parent, community and business organizations are holding public forums on remodeling and constructing schools to make them safe environments that support better teaching and learning and community centers, open after hours for parents, students, and others.
School facilities forum. At Potomac Falls High School in Loudon County, Virginia, parents, students, school board members, and community and church representatives gathered to discuss the importance of newly renovated schools. One student attested to the positive impact her newly renovated school has had on her learning. Loudon County is the fastest growing county in Virginia, as well as one of the fastest growing counties in the country. Loudon County faces the challenge of building new classrooms to accommodate an increasing student enrollment expected to nearly double by 2004.
Host a conference on education. Invite the entire community to attend-families, teachers, school staff, students, business people, community leaders, and any concerned citizen. Visit classrooms and showcase both modern and out-of-date schools as examples of learning environments. Invite speakers to talk about issues of concern to your community, and provide time for participants to share in small group discussions and brainstorming sessions. Make goal-setting a key part of the conference, with time set aside to make concrete plans for meeting the agreed-upon goals in the coming year. Include children as a part of the conference in a performance or activity to help participants keep the focus on what and who matters.
Start a technology drive in your community. Find out what your local schools need in the way of technology. Match school needs with community resources. Enlist high-tech businesses to help train teachers and students. Host a Net Day at schools that are not wired for the Internet to help them become wired. Ask a local business to organize a technology donation drive through which businesses and community members can give used, working computers to schools.
The E-Rate. The Education Rate, or "E-RATE," was created as part of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 to help schools and libraries in America have affordable access to modern telecommunications and information services. All K-12 schools and public libraries qualify for discounts ranging from 20-90 percent, according to their level of economic disadvantage and their location (urban or rural). For more information, call the Schools and Libraries Corporation Client Service hotline at 1-888-203-8100.
Resources to Help
The following publications are available free of charge from U.S. Department of Education by calling 1-877-4ED-PUBS or on the Internet at www.ed.gov.
Current, New and Proposed Resources from the U.S. Department of Education
Call 1-800-USA LEARN for more information on any of the following programs.
