by Dave Finney, President, Champlain College The state Legislature is working on a bill to reduce the number of school districts in Vermont, from the current 273 to between 45-55. On average, today’s school boards in Vermont focus on the education of only 300 children. The bill (H883) would create a better governance structure for public education, which would result in greater student opportunities and lower costs. While there are many facets to this bill, the following points are very clear:
· School choice within the traditional academy structure and local control will be preserved
· Educational opportunity will improve as districts share advanced courses and other offerings
· High quality early childhood education will be more accessible for all children
· Educational quality will improve as local regional districts work with teachers and community members to ensure a broad curriculum to meet student needs
· Administrative overhead will be shared by school districts, linked to a regional board
Some have argued that the legislature shouldn’t alter our current system school districts. They believe that local control is of paramount importance. They argue that we have a system that is great and should not be adjusted.
I believe the opposite to be true. Many public schools in Vermont provide their students with a high quality education, and undoubtedly there are pockets of excellence in teaching and curriculum. But, we are not creating artisanal products in public education. For our democracy to survive and for our society to prosper, there must be universal achievement in all towns, for all children.
Alarmingly while Vermont spends high per child, and while our children achieve well compared to other states, nearly half of our children are not proficient in reading by fourth grade. In general, US students demonstrate poor educational outcomes compared to students in other developed nations. As a nation we are failing to prepare the next generation to compete effectively in an interconnected global economy. Vermont should be part of America’s solution to this problem.
Each year at Champlain we enroll several hundred new freshmen who represent the best students coming out of our public schools in Vermont and throughout the country. They are smart and they are driven to succeed. They are also, on average, very poorly educated. Most have little idea of how to study, how to write effectively, or how to apply statistical analysis to arguments they read in popular media. They lack foundational knowledge and skills. Fortunately, we are able to remedy these issues and then move them forward to college level work.
H883 advances the cause of universal achievement in Vermont. Our ill-prepared children need more from us. I urge the legislature to pass this bill and do the right thing for our young people.
Champlain College President David F Finney is a director of the Vermont Business Roundtable. He is retiring from Champlain after nine years on June 30, 2014. Donald J Laackman, president of Harold Washington College, one of the City Colleges of Chicago, will become the College's eighth president.