Full text can be read here... http://www.ed.gov/news/pressreleases/2008/10/10012008.html
I thought this part was particularly important. Whether you like or dislike Spellings, the lack of public-school-educated, college-ready, low-income high school students is evidence of one of our countries most significant inequalities.
"Let me quote my friend, Harvard grad Michelle Rhee, Chancellor of Washington, D.C. Schools. She says that, "To respond… with anything but radical change … is an insult to the dignity, potential and creativity of our children."
Instead of blaming our kids, we need to start serving their needs—even if that makes a few grown-ups uncomfortable. Reform is never easy. And it's never finished.
That's why we need the support of the higher education community. You have major skin in this game. You pick up where K-12 schools leave off, paying the price with remedial coursework and lost opportunities.
Over the past three decades, our federal investment in higher education tripled. Yet college enrollment and attainment is virtually flat. In 1975, America was number one in college completion rates. In 2005, we were number 10.
Let me give you a more personal example. Last year, I sent back to the U.S. Treasury more than 500 million dollars in unused academic grants for low-income college students. Why? Because not enough had been offered or taken rigorous coursework in high school—coursework essential for college admission and success."
1 comment:
In response to the fourth paragraph in Sec. Spellings' excerpt there, "Why? Because not enough had been offered or taken rigorous coursework in high school-" I think not enough low income students are able to take those classes. And by able, I mean academically prepared. In my most recent school district the high school was segregated along academic lines into the college track and the career track. Unfortunately, that system also set up segregation along socioeconomic and racial lines as well. I believe that with encouragement, confidence, and support, any student can succeed, affluent background or not. I think Spellings' money is in the wrong place. Perhaps she should invest it in those kids from Pre-K and follow them through high school and on to college. I was particularly inspired this past weekend by a This American Life story about the Harlem Children's Zone. You can listen to the story at http://www.thislife.org/
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