When I served on the Fairfax Framework Advisory Committee, I suggested that the committee state that its vision should include raising standardized test scores. The higher standards that the Framework supports will not, by themselves, raise student achievement, nor can the schools alone guarantee student success. The Framework recognizes and welcomes the critical roles of families and the community at large in the education process. The schools believe that they cannot raise academic achievement. In fact raising academic achievement is no longer the school administration's focus.
Education is just one facet of socialization.
What is meant by socialization can be found in Fairfax County's federally subsidized Professional Technical Studies program. Professional Technical Studies reports make no mention of academic competencies - reading, vocabulary, spelling, grammar, arithmetic, geography, history, or writing. Where there are no standards there is no accountability. Two years ago, the Fairfax County School Board asked the school administration evaluate the cost-effectiveness of all instructional programs. The same is true of this year' s program budget.