© 2008 by Educational Research Service Answering the Critics of Public Schools: Dr. John Draper...

© 2008 by Educational Research Service

Answering the Critics of

Public Schools:Dr. John Draper

Chief Executive OfficerEducational Research Service

Presenting and Analyzing Important Educational Issues

Bubba got a cell phone . . .

Bubba and Earl worked weekends at the marina. .

.Priest, Minister, and

Preacher . . .

The public perception of school administration is that it is a large bureaucracy diverting critical resources from instruction. But can this perception be backed up with facts?


Educational Research Service1001 North Fairfax Street, Suite 500Alexandria, VA 22314www.ers.org

NO!

Educational Research Service1001 North Fairfax Street, Suite 500Alexandria, Virginia 22314www.ers.org


Administration is an unnecessary burden on schools and should be curtailed.

The Perception:

FALSE!



Leadership is second only to classroom instruction among all school-related factors that contribute to what students learn at school.

Leadership effects are usually largest where and when they are needed most.

Source: Review of Research: How Leadership Influences Student Learning (Leithwood, Louis, Anderson, & Wahlstrom, 2004).



Superintendent LeadershipThe correlation between an effective superintendent and student learning equates to almost 10 percentile points on standardized assessments.

This finding stands in sharp contrast to the notion that district administration is a part of what former Secretary of Education William Bennett characterized as an amorphous “blob” that soaks up valuable resources without adding value to a district’s instructional program.

SOURCE: School District Leadership that Works: The Effect of Superintendent Leadership on Student Achievement. ERS Spectrum (Waters & Marzano, 2007).



There are too many administrators.

The Perception:

FALSE!



Number of Persons Employed Per Executive, Administrator, and/or Manager in Selected Industries, 2003

SOURCE: Data provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2003) and analyzed by Educational Research Service. Note: The Bureau of Labor Statistics changed its reporting procedures following 2003, and this type of analysis cannot be done for more recent years.



The number of school administrators is growing rapidly and at the expense of instruction.

The Perception:

FALSE!



Percentage of Staff Employed by Public School Districts, by Category

Sources: Public Elementary and Secondary School Enrollment, High School Completions, and Staff from the Common Core of Data: School Year 2005-06 (Sable & Garofano, 2007) and Public School Student Staff and Graduate Counts by State, School Year 1995-96 (National Center for Education Statistics, 1997).

1995-96 2005-06 Teachers 52.0%

51.2% Instructional aides 9.9 11.4 Counselors, librarians, and

instructional coordinators 3.4 3.3 Student and other support staff

(library aides, bus drivers, cafeteria workers, etc.) 31.2 30.2

School administrators 2.4 2.8 School district administrators 1.0 1.1



Changes in Pupil-Staff Ratios, 2002-03 to 2007-08

4.3% decline nationally in average pupil/teacher ratio, to 15.5 pupils per teacher in 2007-2008

4.0% decline in average pupil/central office administrator ratios, to 501 pupils per central office administrator

Source: Staffing Patterns in Public School Systems: Current Status and Trends, Update 2008 (Educational Research Service, 2008).



School administrators are paid too much.

The Perception:

FALSE!


Comparing 2007 Average Salaries (2007 Bureau of Labor Statistics)

• Teachers $50,936Elem/Sec Principals 82,120 1.61x

• Flight attendant $62,880Pilot/CoPilot 148,810 2.37x

• Accountant/Auditor $63,180CEO/Manager 151,370 2.40x

• Paralegal/Legal Asst $47,600Lawyer 118,280 2.48x

• Nurse $62,480Family Doctor 167,270 2.68x



Comparing Annual Salaries and Daily Pay Rates, 2007-2008

AverageSalary

Days onDuty

DailyRates

Teachers $49,195 186 $264 1.00Elementary Principals 81,935 224 366 1.39Junior High/Middle

School Principals 88,079 227 388 1.47Senior High Principals 90,964 231 394 1.49Assistant Superintendents 112,587 237 475 1.80Superintendents 125,096 241 519 1.97

SOURCE: Salaries and Wages Paid Professional and Support Personnel in Public Schools 2007-2008. Data weighted to generate nationally representative averages (Educational Research Service, 2008a).

Comparison with Teacher

Salary



Increasing amounts of school budgets are going to administration.

The Perception:

FALSE!



Average Percentage of Operating Expenditures Allocated to Various Functional Categories

Sources: Revenues and Expenditures for Public Elementary and Secondary Education: School Year 2005-06 (Zhou, 2008) and Digest of Education Statistics 2004 (National Center for Education Statistics, 2005).

1995-96 2005-06

Instruction 64.6%63.5%

Instructional staff support 4.1 5.1 Student support services 5.0 5.4 General administration 2.4 2.1 School administration 6.1 5.8 Operations and maintenance 10.6 10.3 Transportation 4.3 4.4 Other support services 2.9 3.3



A lot of money is going toadministration that could bebetter spent for other purposes.

The Perception:

FALSE!



School District Operating Expenditures, 2005-2006

Other Support Services 3.3%

School Administration 5.8%

Operations & Maintenance 10.3%

General Administration 2.1%

SOURCE: Revenues and Expenditures for Public Elementary and Secondary Education: School Year 2005-06 (Zhou, 2008).

Instruction63.5%

Instructional Staff Support 5.1%

Student Support Services 5.4%

Transportation 4.4%



“The data reveal that average administrative expenditures in education generally do not support the theory of the administrative ‘blob’… Expenditures on administration tend to be modest by comparison to benchmarks for other organizations.”

Finance Center of the Consortium for Policy Research in Education

Research—Let’s be Research—Let’s be Honest! Honest!

Research—Let’s be Research—Let’s be Honest! Honest!

We’re Choking On We’re Choking On it!it!

School Leaders Have

Too Little Time and

Too MuchInformation!

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So What Facts Do You

Need to Know to

Answer the Critics of Public Education?

Arguing about NCLB is like Arguing about NCLB is like askingasking

“How do you want me to cut “How do you want me to cut off your arm?”off your arm?”

Arguing about NCLB is like Arguing about NCLB is like askingasking

“How do you want me to cut “How do you want me to cut off your arm?”off your arm?”

Either way—you lose Either way—you lose your arm!your arm!

The AYP RaceWe are running a marathon

that we cannot win…

against competition

that cannot lose!

2003-04

2004-05

2005-06

2006-07

2007-08

2008-09

2009-10

2010-11

2011-12

2012-13

2013-14

STATEWIDE AYP GOALSAPPLIES TO ALL STUDENT GROUPS

IN EVERY SCHOOL AND SCHOOL SYSTEM

NCLB is a

Noble Goal

But a

Horrible Measure

of Success!

A mom went to visit her college-attending son to see his new apartment

and meet his new roommate . . .

To maintain our schools we need . . .

Political Skill andPublic Support

As a school leader you have a

responsibility on behalf

of your students to engage

with state and national issues!

How are America’s public schools?

We’re Hurting!Learning First Alliance Survey

Shared Unsettling Results

The Main Trend Shaping Attitudes Toward All Our Institutions,

Including Education:

Is a declining trust / confidence in most public institutions

What are the most important goals for schools?

1. Teaching students hard work and responsibility

2. Cultivating respectful and responsible behavior

3. Providing equal access to a quality education for all

4. Contributing to strong family values

What are the most important goals for schools?

5. Giving students the skills and knowledge they need for success

6. Encouraging students to respect others for who they are

7. Preparing students to be life-long learners

Do you believe . . .

Public Education is the Backbone of American

Democracy

Do you believe . . .

Education is the Backbone of American

Democracy

Parents still preferPublic Schools toPrivate Schools . . .

But by a very narrow margin!

The Danger with NCLB is that. . .

We focus all our resources on

“leaving no child behind”

winning the battle and losing the war!

A long-married husband and wife went for a walk and passed a wishing well. . .

One person’s wishis another’s

demise!

Southern Baptist Convention

• 2004--parents who …send their children to government schools…and are receiving a Godless, anti-Christian education . . .”

• 2005--encourages all churches to work vigorously . . .to provide or generously support (1) Christian schools, (2) home-schooling, and (3) alternative models for providing Christian education

We must change the conversation!

• Godless, government schools

• Selfish, union employees

• Leaving children

behind

• Caring, community schools

• Dedicated, public servants

• Every Child Every Chance

Caring, Community Schools

Staffed with Dedicated, Public Servants

Providing Every Child

Every Chance for Success

What can YOU do about it?

Talk about the good things. Don’t talk about the bad apples in the bunch, talk about the golden apples! Talk to your board, the media, at church, at the ball field, and around town. Talk about the possibilities and the successes—not the shortcomings.

We must reclaim the Moral High Ground!

• We accept all children• We feed hungry children every day• We teach, inspire and discipline• We pass out hugs and wipe away tears• “And whoever welcomes a little child

like this in my name, welcomes me.”

Miracles Happen Everyday in Public

Schools!

“More of God’s work is done every day in public schools than in any other institution in America!”

Frosty Troy

Speak to American Values!

• If students get a good education they become

productive members of society. • Most Americans who have

worked their way out of poverty . . .

• Healthy communities need strong public schools.

Speak to American Values!

• Without free public schools problems like crime and welfare...• Public Schools are the engine of

opportunity for all Americans. • Miracles happen everyday in

public schools!

Caring, community schools

providing every child

every chance for success!

We are engaged in the most noble battle of

our time!

Let’s build more bridges . . .

“The Bridgebuilder”




Chief Executive Officer


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Chief Executive Officer


© 2008 by Educational Research Service Answering the Critics of Public Schools: Dr. John Draper...

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Transcript of © 2008 by Educational Research Service Answering the Critics of Public Schools: Dr. John Draper...