Comments on: We’re getting $700 million from feds. Let’s not blow it.

By: Sarge

Sarge — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 05:42:50 +0000

When I was a kid, I received, from my Dad, X monies a week, no questions asked. Generaly, the monies garnered was enough to cover a weekend movie or two along with the usual box of popcorn and a drink. If there was anything else on my needs n’wants agenda, I had to explain to my Dad, IN DETAIL, the whats, whys and hows involved. Being a pretty good sort of a guy (although, at the time, you wouldn’t know it by me), he generally accomodated the fiscal goals of this 50s-era 9 year-old, AS LONG AS I COULD FORMULATE and ENUNCIATE MY PLAN (as well as could be expected of the kid). In hindsight, I now realize that he was simply training me in the soon-to-be-adult responsibility of ACCOUNTABILITY. On the rare occassion when I might attempt to BS him by offering some half-baked generality as an explanation for my intended use of the dough, I would not only receive nothing, but future requests were met with indepth interogations of those whys, whats and hows.

So rather than accept the broad snake oil-saturated reasons for this cash infusion: support teachers and help students…, lets hear the detailed plans, how they are to be implemented, and the expected results. Inasmuch as, in the past, the fed has been known to toss billions to the wind with little, if any, return on (taxpayer) investment, perhaps this just might be a wise approach to that oft-called for ACCOUNTABILITY.

By: Terry

Terry — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 15:30:47 +0000

Mo, I believe the money Georgia is getting for IDEA should be used for PBS in every district and then I also believe that all educators need to be really educated on good classroom management and behavior management alternatives for those ‘problem’ children they always like to complain about.

By: jim d

jim d — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 13:37:55 +0000

So what you are saying is that they get us to give it to the fed so they can then decide how much to give back?

One thing I’ve learned over the many years in business is that the more times money changes hands the less there is of it. (administrative fees you know)

I’m no mathmatican but it occurs to me that we’d be better off just keeping our money locally and telling the fed to shove off.

By: Ronald

Ronald — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 12:57:27 +0000

@ jim d —”Where does the fed get this money??”

out of your and my pocket, bro.

By: Tony

Tony — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 12:57:00 +0000

The feds contribution to education comes with many, many strings. In terms of our overall budgets, the amount is between 5% to 10% for the system. Yet the costs are extensive.

To get the federal money, we first had to agree (several years ago) to test children and set state wide passing rate standards. These standards had to be ever increasing until 100% of children passed the assessments in 2013.

Second, we have to follow various protocols in use of the funds. We can only use federal funding for “research-based” strategies. We have to have a comprehensive improvement plan. We have to have parenting support. Special education has a gazillion requirements many of which are absolutely ludicrous.

Third, they take both hands and tie them behind our backs so that we are not allowed to take any real action to improve our schools. The rules and regulations that states and feds impose on local schools have the effect of limiting our options rather than improving our options. Sometimes, the only way we can enact major improvement strategies is through very careful maneuvering through all the obstacles thrown in our way. (Growing up on a farm, I learned early how to deal with obstacles.)

To jim d – Where does the Federal Reserve get any of the money the government distributes? A major portion comes from those of us who make weekly, “voluntary” contributions through the payroll deduction plan. Another portion comes from those who are self-employed and voluntarily file the quarterly payments. Then, the rest comes from the imaginary bank that is about to put our whole country in the poor house.

By: NBCT husband

NBCT husband — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 12:55:22 +0000

After reading on this blog about how much more valuable that National Board Certified Teachers are than just plain teachers, I think the money should be used to not only be restore NBCT bonuses, but to double them.

If you don’t believe me, just ask a NBCT how important they are to the school system. They have an almost cult like status–legends in their own time.

Without NBCT’s, SAT scores in GA would be at least 200 points lower.

Please help the NBCT make her new car payment!!

Hubby

By: jim d

jim d — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 12:02:54 +0000

with 1,522,611 k-12 public school students in georgia that breaks out to be roughly $459.74 per student.

Someone help me out here. Where does the fed get this money??

By: jim d

jim d — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 11:33:27 +0000

I’m wagering that less than 40% of these funds will actually be spent in the classroom.

By: jim d

jim d — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 11:30:36 +0000

OH GOODIE!!!

GCPS being the largest system in the state should be in line to recieve a lions share of the IDEA grants that they can then use to fight providing these critical services.

Same stuff—different day!! ;(

By: catlady

catlady — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 10:54:28 +0000

Please don’t use a cent of the money on programs that have not been used by REAL teachers in REAL classrooms! That would cut out 90% at least of the stuff that has “reformed” us over the last 10 years! What a waste!