Education with the Secretary

Per hour couple interesting stories as we wait for secretary -- a call and one is that the -- Massachusetts schools of slipped a little bit at the vis a vis the federal standard which is really standard of expectation. I eat disposed to improve noticeably each and every year so it's a it's an expectation of constant improvement. And then within the MCAS scores. Roxbury prep which of talked about. Probably ad nauseam to some people's opinion in the end not enough in my opinion. Iraq's very -- just hit home run up the home run up the home run again. All minorities. Right over the years to middle school in the -- school aren't it's a child's school while performing west and outperforming by alma mater Boston Latin. Outperforming everybody are around it's just an amazing. Story it's and it's a great story. Yeah I know you're a huge fan of kip I know -- good to Leo has visited I think they're kept schoolwork got to make. I'm a big tree and on the -- very prep this is I think I think it's great news within an otherwise. I guess troubling report -- Paul -- can make it all clear for us right.

Good morning sir welcome back. Here well Paul thank you for joining us to do Tommy apply hearing today at the legislature what's gonna happen.

Well we hit a couple of bills that we're bringing forward as discussion Nero earlier recap very much. It charter school -- oldest and holistic cap -- double the captain Ian. Some of our most beleaguered school systems in the commonwealth and focus directly on the kids with the biggest achievement gaps and utilized the services a group of providers. Same time we're creating a new breed called the our schools already schools which are designed to be. A chart -- internal. District Charter Schools they can be put together by groups of teachers by outside partners should -- to the school system. Dedication of chronic underperformance. -- enables the commissioner of education to go in with. They are all new tool -- such things that he can do to turn around underperformance in Whiting school.

What are the are key elements of the readiness schools that make them a better choice. Then charters.

Well one and they aren't anxious that it keeps the money we didn't -- system one of the big problems with a growth for the Charter Schools irrespective of their. Marriage has been this fierce competition over -- staying in the school system are flowing out. So that after sixteen years of Charter Schools category two point 6% of our children -- charters so we've we've been a political and passer on this for a long long time. Our hope is to change the conversation by challenging at best schools and educators -- their school systems to embrace. New kinds of flexibility and autonomy is. And operate those schools. Independent of the school administration -- reporting directly to the school committee. In a way that makes them still part they. Municipal school system but having a fair amount of professional army discretion about how to better certainly there's.

Mr. secretary any indication at this early point from say mass teachers association. As to the air receptivity to that we know -- the hostility at a Charter Schools. It's clear Wallace but what do how did they respond to what you just outlined does this hybrid.

I think they've bitten I have to Cabell witnessed over the course city here we've we've made a number of modifications and our proposal to try and make it something that they could embrace. They are still concerned with the elements so that that they see in -- sharing with traditional collective bargaining. We're trying to to redefine collective bargaining in a way that gives the power to individuals faculty members at the school also faculty members of the school. Will still be compensated the -- might still receive the same better access to. Still have the same due process rights but they decide they want a change their working conditions for example work a longer day an extension -- Responsibility and started around the school. We think that's OK for them to make that decision and their decisions should expand the union shouldn't have a speech Elena. And so. They have they disagreed with that and have church and liberated emails suggesting that this is an attacker collective bargaining but we see it as. As an enhancements. Teacher professionalism and giving teachers for the first time ever. The discretion to really manage elite schools. Much as we saw other Boston teachers union stepped up and and agreed operated on.

It it would seem that that impasse would be insurmountable. Because the teachers unions don't really care about teachers they care about the unions and their ability to control those resource is in control the schools. They want absolute control you're looking to break that absolute control. Is the Obama administration now breaking with the partnership the traditional partnership between the Democratic Party in the union's. And using this new money to try to leverage. The kinds of changes the you're looking for is that it affecting the political dynamic enough. So we might actually be able to work for better education instead of the stronger unions.

I -- it are beginning to get a message and so -- old friends people like that President Obama secretary Duncan or their Governor Patrick from Mayor Menino are myself people who work closely with the unions since he teachers as central to making good schools. Start suggesting that we need to. Begin operating in different ways that the old industrial average stereo model of labor management relations and education where we focus our prerogatives of adults and ignore. You know what it takes to improve student learning he is is something the past and that we've got to think differently and -- the 21 century school system. And unions can either fight that or be partners and network and I think in many ways. I EC ending clinician and top leadership torn apart parent network. But -- itself our are hard to break.

Paul -- and mr. secretary are reported the front page of today's -- say Massachusetts schools of slipped a little bit. Vis a vis the federal stand it in No Child Left Behind there's somebody read in the headline might say -- this is very troubling. But as I ready inside me you know but some some pretty well respected people say let's not lose any sleep over this. That it's it's a constantly shifting standard in Massachusetts schools still performing well what should take on the story and what should we be alarmed about if any time.

Well I think via its important put discerning context we had MCAS scores a week ago that showed just. Improved performance for example attempt straight across the board and -- or improved job performance are virtually every level and am Jeffs is a constant measure from year to year. The federal government to its credit to set a very ambitious standards. But many of -- believe and unrealistic expanded that we're gonna get a 100% of our students proficient. By 34. And then they've not set a uniform federal standard to do -- they're -- states that it's standard. In this state since we believer our expectations we set the highest standards in the country. And so each year that expectation by the federal government ratchets up to closed down 200%. By 34. So that by many measures our schools are actually doing better than they were last year surveyed by all the national indicators. And comparative Jurassic compare our students the students in other states but I am -- looks as -- our program but by this federal bar which keeps going up be cheered because -- standards are ambitious. It makes this look like -- slippage over four percentage points there and over what we were questions.

from what that is not a good thing if the standard -- going up then there's there's that kind of pressure at their center.

That's I think we should -- and that's always been our beliefs in Massachusetts and -- any if you districts are sprout more bitter lower. That's state standards but that none of -- wanna do that so. I think we keep pushing back where idealistic we would like to get a 100% of our student proficiency by twelve to fourteen. And we don't worry too much about this struck her record in the president authorities said. She -- this may be. I'm in need of revision and I think if they looked at the No Child Left Behind act they're going to be doing some revisions -- taken no -- it's like -- which have the highest standards in the country.

Mr. secretary some very impressive news out of our Roxbury -- China now wait I used them as an example but there are other examples held -- From your perspective what is what of that Kipp academies and -- very prep Charter Schools doing that might be replicated. The end you know in the ordinary public schools be they in Boston -- Springfield some of the more troubled systems. What is missing from the ordinary public classrooms and what's being done uniquely differently and that's replica -- much out of schools.

I think there are a lot of factors to Omniture C when you visit these schools and that's it's precisely because of the success in -- expert actually -- schools that we. A proposed listing the charter capital allowing providers like they had to come and expand. They're the number of schools and we hope connects more regularly with the mainstream schools so schools can learn the lessons. I think you know when I visit this site seeks to extend -- school time. I see a lot of personal attention involvement by faculty. In the lives of their students think connection to the families. I see a uniform way to hide. Level of expectation in other words there's this sense that every student has to achieve at the -- standard. In every teacher takes ownership with respect to that student's performance. These characteristics that -- that you can find. Commonly in mainstream public schools but Charter Schools often are smaller schools. Charter Schools have some degree coach -- activity in terms with who project and whatnot so -- variety of factors at work here but I think there's. Notion of small schools and high expectations. Of any chance academic instruction of personal attention to students. Re creating and -- great spirit. That no excuses for not being suspended all these things are critically important and can be adapted and are adapted the.

secretary of education or well good luck today in the hearings and report back to us would you.

Well we know thank you very much time until it.

A terrible there is a declaration of war that is it's undergoing most people on all this there is one thing the Barack Obama's trying to change there would be positive for the country and that is he is gone to war. Against the traditional relationship between Lou the unions. And -- that the employer it's very enterprise Java LaRue and try to get a break up this marriage that his role in the schools in this country it's not to it's certainly not what you would calls typical. Democratic. National -- local -- now it's not shocked or damage shock over he's got to set it's also. Is it's a wonder to behold. You'd trying to -- any type of compliment word of praise recognition. For President Obama that he actually in your opinion may have got at least one dollars is the idea this is real and one -- thing and got that -- you're that is -- I'm very sorry I don't -- applaud him I wanna applaud. I'm -- Turkey you know it's it's a if it's not going nearly as far as it should then maybe they're men of the political calculation. That this powerful and destructive as the unions are that this is all they can get away with -- also them. Look here on Boston's officers who may absentee. W --