A recent report commissioned by Congress found that states don’t fund education fairly across jurisdictions, need to do a better job intervening in struggling school districts and encouraging better-qualified teachers to enter the profession — and stay.
“In far too many communities, in far too many cities, in far too many states, there are inequities,” said U.S. Education Secretary Duncan, speaking with reporters Tuesday (February 19) about the report, which is intended to provide guidance for the department he oversees. “This report doesn’t just compel us to think and talk, but to act.”
The report, overseen by a broad commission that includes academics, education advocates, state and federal officials and labor leaders, targets five major areas for improvement: school funding, teacher quality, preschool, resources in high-poverty communities and school governance and accountability.
It calls for tying federal aid to requirements that states adopt more equitable funding formulas, promote greater diversity within all schools, train and retain better teachers and provide quality preschooling to all students.
While it’s unclear how soon most of the report’s recommendations are likely to spur legislation, the... <a href="http://www.pewstates.org/projects/stateline/headlines/report-state-school-funding-unfair-85899452759" target="_blank">Read More</a>
