Well Texas is "out of the race" when it comes to the Race To The Top Grant(Stimulus money for public schools). The Race to the Top money was an opportunity that came down from the federal level to the state, and it had to be applied from the governor's office. Governor Perry refused to submit the state's application into the government even though the Texas Education Agency spent several months putting the application together. Was this a bad thing or a good thing? I haven't agreed with Perry very much in the past, but I think he did the right thing with this one. First, the Obama administration decides to hand out $4.3 Billion nationally, and added another $1.35 Billion for the next fiscal year (like more money needs to be handed out). Perry rejected this offer, even though AISD has already received $23 million in stimulus money for economically challenged schools. Instead Perry is pursuing an Investing in Innovation Grant. This grant has nothing to do with the state or the T.E.A., instead it relies on well researched and proven education practices. What are those practices; well that has yet to be decided. A lot of people are angry at Perry for doing this, but I say good job. Look, four Austin area high schools (Reagan, Travis, East Side Memorial, and LBJ), and 5 Austin area middle schools (Garcia, Lamar, Martin, Mendex, and Pearce) all have unacceptable ratings. But is it the students or teachers fault that these schools are doing so poorly? Both. The teachers aren’t doing their jobs well, and the students aren’t doing well. I believe that when the students aren't doing well it discourages the teachers and the cycle of poor performance continues. So what should happen next? I know this might sound harsh, but close the schools down. Yes, I know this will put some teachers out of a job, and inconvenience those students and their parents, and even AISD, but I think that in the long run it's for the best.
https://acconline.austincc.edu/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_id=_2_1&url=%2fwebapps%2fblackboard%2fexecute%2flauncher%3ftype%3dCourse%26id%3d_29349_1%26url%3d
http://www.austintitle.com/school_ratings/2009/austin.htm
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If I understand your argument correctly, it is that the state should close down under performing schools. I don't think that is practical. Where are all the students from these schools going to go? We can bus them off to better schools, but don't you think the burden of a huge number of under-educated students coming in would cause these schools to also perform poorly? I don't agree with all this massive spending either, but I don't think closing down all the schools is a realistic solution.
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