Fix Schools First: Blueprint for Achieving Learning Standards Book

	Foreword	xiii
	Preface	xix
	Acknowledgments	xxiii
	Introduction	xxvii
Part I	Overpowering Reasons for Change	1
Chapter 1	Educators Ring Alarm Bell on Quality	3
	How Serious Are the Quality Issues?	4
	What Is the Definition for Success?	6
	Where Do You Find Successful School Districts?	9
	What Are the Major Excuses for Failure?	10
	Time to Do Away with Excuses	16
Chapter 2	Ring Another Alarm Bell for Escalating Costs	19
	First or Second Largest Line Item of Government Expense	19
	Inequalities of Rich and Poor Districts	21
	What Are the Realistic Costs for Operating Schools?	23
	Schools Are a Business	24
	Federal Role in Funding Schools	26
	Other Sources of Investment	27
	Additional Costs for Failure	28
	How High Will the Costs Go?	29
Chapter 3	Why Systemic Change Is the Only Alternative	35
	Are Schools Better Than Ever?	35
	What Are the Alternatives for Future Education Reform Programs?	38
	Theory of Upper Limits	40
	What Are the Real Educational Problems That Must Be Addressed?	43
	Why Superintendents and Principals Are Not Leaders of Learning	48
	New Attitude for Education Reform Is Required in Schools	48
	What Happens If Educators Do Not Support Systemic Change?	49
	Time To Focus on the Real Problems in Learning	50
Part II	Good Intentions for Almost Two Decades	53
Chapter 4	Low-Cost, Quick-Fix, and Sound-Good Programs	55
	Adopt-a-School	55
	Site-Based Management	56
	Create Smaller Schools	57
	Test the Teachers	58
	Hire Noncertified Teachers	59
	Obtain More Parental Involvement and Support	61
	Volunteer Programs	62
	Uniforms for Students	63
	Learning Contract	63
	Implement Total Quality Management	64
	Instructional Grouping	65
	Single-Sex Schools	65
	Scheduling Adjustments	66
	Standardized Lesson Plans	67
	Move the Most Effective Teachers to Inner-City Schools	68
	Hire More Minority Teachers	68
	Warranty Pledges for New Teachers	69
	Eliminate Tenure	69
	Raise the Bar for Academic Performance	70
	Recognition and Rewards	70
	More Male Teachers in Elementary Schools	71
	Summary of Low-Cost, Quick-Fix, and Sound-Good Solutions	71
Chapter 5	High-Cost and Long-Term Programs	75
	Busing Students to Integrated Schools	75
	Business Roundtable Adopts States	76
	Education Research	77
	Social Promotion	78
	Longer School Days	79
	More Days per Year	80
	Breakfasts and Lunches	81
	School-Based Health Centers	81
	More Years of Schooling for High School Graduates	82
	Universal Preschool for Four-Year-Old Students	83
	Computers	84
	Cooperative Learning	84
	Schoolwide Reform	86
	Enhanced Professional Development Programs	88
	Additional Compensation	89
	Hire Better Teachers	91
	Pay for Performance	91
	Tutoring	93
	Number of Students in the Class	94
	Economic School Desegregation	96
	Build First-Class Facilities	96
	Overhaul Governance	97
	Summary of High-Cost and Long-Term Programs	97
Chapter 6	Move the Educators and Students	101
	Choice	101
	Vouchers	102
	Magnet Schools	107
	Charter Schools	108
	Privatization of Schools	115
	Home Schooling	118
	Summary of Good Intentions for Two Decades	121
Part III	The Search for Breakthroughs in Learning	125
Chapter 7	Goals, Standards, and Accountability	127
	Establishing National Goals	127
	Standards To Achieve Goals	131
	Accountability To Achieve Standards	133
	"Beating the System" and Cheating	138
	Backlash on Testing	140
	Small Improvement Is Not Victory	141
Chapter 8	Need for a World-Class Curriculum	145
	Definition of Standards, Curriculum, and Lessons	145
	Requirement for Integrated Curriculum	146
	Directors of Curriculum Are Essential	147
	Need for a World-Class Curriculum	148
	Alternative Classroom or School for "Problem" Students	158
	Workplace Education and Training	158
	High-Potential and Gifted Students	159
	Special Education	160
	Education for Immigrants	161
	Curriculum Planning Is the Foundation for Student Learning	161
Chapter 9	Why Learning Systems Are Essential in Classrooms	165
	Definition of a Learning System	166
	Concepts of a Learning System	166
	Base Information for Good Learning Systems	167
	Design of Teaching Guides and Course Materials	169
	Why Instructional Systems Design Methods Are Essential	171
	Interactive Tutoring	172
	Multiple Intelligence in Learning Systems	173
	Professional Development for Teaching	175
	Measurement and Management of Learning	176
	Closing the Achievement Gap with Minorities	178
	Will Teachers Accept Learning Systems?	179
	What Are the Consequences for Not Using Learning Systems?	181
	Learning Systems Are Critical to Success in Most Classrooms	182
Chapter 10	Development and Affordability of Learning Systems	187
	Personnel Required for Learning System Development	187
	Who Will Develop Learning Systems?	188
	New American Schools	191
	Schoolwide Reform Models	192
	School Reform Models That Are Available	193
	Other Sources for Learning Systems	196
	Proof-of-Concept Case Study	197
	Opportunity for Federal Department of Education	200
	Affordability of Learning Systems	201
	Cost of Failure and Retention	204
	Case Study on Affordability	206
	Incremental Funds in 1999 and 2000	209
	Increased Compensation for Teacher Creativity	209
	Selection of Learning Systems	210
	Learning Systems for Mainstream and At-Risk Students	213
	Empowerment of Teachers and Administrators	214
Chapter 11	Need for an Exciting New Vision	219
	Example of a New Vision	220
	Important Success Factors	220
	No Excuse for Poor Performance	227
	Vision Achieves Better Teaching	228
	Benefits of This Vision for Teachers	230
Part IV	How to Institutionalize Change	233
Chapter 12	Need for a New Management System	235
	Schools Must Be Managed	235
	New Multilevel Organization for Working Partnerships	236
	Systems Approach for Academic Performance	241
	"Better Teaching" Requires "Better Management"	243
	New Statewide or Districtwide Administrative System	245
	Three Basic Types of Administrators	246
	Other Key Positions Required for the New Vision	247
	Administrator's Institute for Management	248
	Requirement for a New Position: Master Teachers	249
	Requirement for Para-Educators	251
	Counseling Students	251
	Job Training for Nonteaching Staff	252
	Case Study of Management	253
	Achieve Total Quality Management in Schools	254
Chapter 13	Need for a Change Management System	259
	From Traditional Model to a Learning-Centered Model	259
	Guidelines for Creating and Managing Change	260
	Who Is Responsible for Creating Change?	264
	Difference between Pilot Schools and Charter Schools	266
	Training Required To Create Change	266
	Lessons of Change from New American Schools	267
	What Role Does Technology Play in the Change Process?	267
	Case Study for an Instructional Technology Program	274
	Size Will Evolve To Be an Advantage	275
	Case Study of Change	276
	What Happens If Change Management Principles Are Not Used?	278
	Change Is Not Easy, but It Does Happen	279
Chapter 14	Why Stakeholders Will Endorse the New Paradigm	283
	Political Leaders	283
	Business Leaders	284
	Media	285
	Advocacy Groups	285
	Colleges of Education	286
	Secretary of Education and Federal Department of Education	290
	State School Officer and State Department of Education	291
	Accreditation Agencies	292
	School Boards	292
	Superintendent and District Staff	293
	Principals and Vice-Principals	293
	Teachers	294
	Teacher Unions	296
	Parents	300
	Taxpayers	302
	Students	302
	The Challenge	303
Chapter 15	Call for Dynamic Leadership and Action	307
	Reasons for Slow Progress	307
	Why Teachers Cannot Lead the Required Changes	308
	Requirements for an Outstanding Management Team	309
	What Are the Sources for Outstanding Candidates?	311
	Performance Audit of a School District	313
	The Need for Outstanding Principals	315
	New Role of the School Board	316
	Organization Leadership Is Required	317
	Role of Foundations To Solve Leadership Challenge	317
	Successful Case Studies of Leadership	319
	Is Public Shaming Really Needed for Accountability?	320
	New Lawsuits Will Motivate Change	321
	Need for Dynamic Action Plans	322
	Stop the Backlash on Standards	323
	Brief Review of Other Countries	324
	Conclusion	327
	Suggested Readings	335
Appendix A	Definitions of Various Systems Used throughout an Education System	341
	Index	345
	About the Author	355