Four issues are central to lasting improvements in student achievement. They are cornerstones of effective reform. But teachers don't even have copies of these standards on their desks yet, much less textbooks and lesson plans so students can start learning the material. Bergan said students will face test questions based on the new standards on this month's statewide STAR test, possibly before they've been taught the material in class. I fear the test results from these questions will be disheartening, and that critics will move to 'dumb-down' the new standards before they've had a chance to take root.
Accountability has to start with education policy makers.
We've instituted new expectations of students without a commitment to new resources. Imposing more penalties for failure is not going to make a difference if we don't provide the resources for success. We're facing a shortage of a quarter of a million teachers in the next few years, just when we expect new reforms to turn performance around. We lose 25 percent of our new teachers in their first five years in the classroom. Give teachers incentives to stay in this tough job.