Redesigning Low-Performing Schools: It's Union Work. American
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DOCUMENT RESUME ED 432 534 SP 038 644 TITLE Redesigning Low-Performing Schools: It's Union Work. INSTITUTION American Federation of Teachers, Washington, DC. PUB DATE 1999-06-00 NOTE 27p. AVAILABLE FROM AFT Order Department, 555 New Jersey Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20001-2079 (Item 23). PUB TYPE Guides - Non-Classroom (055) EDRS PRICE MF01/PCO2 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS *Educational Improvement; Educational Quality; Elementary Secondary Education; Equal Education; Excellence in Education; High Risk Students; Low Income Groups; Poverty; Public Education; *Public Schools; Teacher Associations; Teacher Role; *Unions IDENTIFIERS *Low Performing Schools ABSTRACT This booklet examines the need for action to improve the nation's lowest performing public schools, noting the responsibility of teacher unions to participate in the development of workable solutions. Section 1, "Redesigning Low-Performing Schools," discusses reasons for concern, what should be done, and how to implement change. Section 2, "Questions and Answers," discusses why the union supports the redesign or closing of low-performing schools; what are some indicators that a school is low-performing; what are the features of an effective school-redesign process; why low-performing schools should select effective research-based programs; what the union should do to ensure that identified schools effectively implement good programs; and how schools can afford such programs. Section 3, "Background Information," discusses turnaround schools, focusing on what can be done to help struggling schools; the union's responsibility to use tough love when schools do not work; alternative remedies; the effect of teacher and union participation; and systemic improvement. Section 4, "Background Reading," presents suggested reading materials. (SM) ******************************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. ******************************************************************************** Redesigning Low-Perfor Schools: It's Union Work BEST COPYAVAILABLE American Federation of Teachers PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE AND U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION DISSEMINATE THIS MATERIAL HAS Office of Educational Research and Improvement BEEN GRANTED BY EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) 0 This document has been reproduced as received from the person or organization 01, ka-4-0 son originating it. 0 Minor changes have been made to improve reproduction quality. TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES .90 INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) Points of view or opinions stated in this 1 document do not necessarily represent ....A11.IN. 2 II official OERI position or policy. BEST COPY AVAILABLE Redesigning Low-Performing Schools: Ifs Union Work I. AFT Convention Resolution / Page 3 II. Questions &Answers / Page 9 III. Background Information / Page 13 IV. Background Reading / Page 21 3 Design: Bornstein Associates / Illustration: Dan Sherbo I. Redesigning Low Performing Schools AFT Convention Resolution Adopted July 19, 1998 It is as much the duty of the union to preserve public education as it is to negotiate a good contract. ALBERT SHANKER dent achievement, professional develop- I. Why We Are ment, curricula and assessments aligned to the standards, and promotion policies and Concerned other incentives that reward students for America's public school system has always working hard and meeting the standards been one of its most important institu- our schools can match or surpass the tionscharged with preparing all students accomplishments of the highest-achieving for responsible citizenship and productive nations. We also recognize, however, that adult lives. To fulfill this mission and some schools and some students will need defend universal public education, the more attention than others. Urgent action AFT has dedicated itself to raising the must be taken to improve the nation's low- standards of academic achievement and est-performing schools, and we believe that student conduct in all schools. We believe it is the union's responsibility to participate that our students and teachers are as capa- in the development of workable solutions ble as any in the world. Given the stan- including, where necessary, starting all over dards-based reforms we advocateinclud- again. ing clear grade-by-grade standards for stii- All children need and deserve good Redesigning Low-Performing Schools: It's Union Work / 3 5 schoolsespecially those children who are plans to improve teachingor learningis most vulnerable and who, without a good being implementedor advocated by some education, are doomed to a continuous andcourts and some federal, state, and district vicious cycle of poverty and failure. While officials. The new faculty in "reconstituted" this is not an easy undertaking, the price ofschools, however, are likely to have the continued inaction is intolerablefor the same inadequate resources, poor profes- students, many of whom emerge from highsional development, and lack ofaccess to school unprepared for further educationor research-tested programs that their prede- a skilled trade; for parents, who want the cessors had, while having even less class- best for their children; for the school staff, room experience to fall back upon. many of whom struggle heroically to com- We cannot afford any more political pensate for the larger failures of the school quick-fixes that will inflict additional injury system; and for the nation, which must on students, as well as staff We need edu- bear the burden of lower economic produc-cationally sound solutions to the problems tivity, increased social service funding, of failing schools, and we need themnow. higher crime rates, and a less informed citi- zenry In recent years, the very existence of II. What Should low-performing schools has served to bring the entire system of public education into Be Done question. News stories feature schools As the union representing teachers, where few students graduate, and toomanyclassroom paraprofessionals, and other of those who do are barely literateschoolsschool-related personnel in many of the with chronically low testscores and condi- areas plagued by chronic school failure, it is tions that are so dirty and dangerous that incumbent upon us to advocate and, where staff and students alikeare afraid to walk possible, negotiate, for improvement the halls. In this context, school vouchers always insisting that the actions takenare and other privatization schemes have educationally sound and effective. We must begun to gain favor, despite the fact that take an active role, from the outset, to the abandonment of common public ensure that teachers and other school staff schools would leave the nationmore divid- are treated professionally, are involved in ed, and unequal, than ever. The politically decision making, and are part of the solu- expedient, but educationally bankrupt, pol-tion. While social and economic inequities icy of "school reconstitution"stigmatizingcan be obstacles to the delivery of equal and replacing staff, regardless ofcompe- educational opportunity, thereare schools tence or quality, and without any specific around the country where "at-risk" students 4 / Redesigning Low-Performing Schools: It's Union Work 6 meet high academic standards. We can anddemand that students get the extra help must learn from these schools. The chal- they might need, and hold students Poor children lenge before us is to take the research on accountable. Pending the implementation programs and pedagogical approaches that of serious standards-based reform at the and middle have been proven to work, and use it to district, state, and national level, schools class children ensure that children and schools succeed. should select improvement programs in As educators, we are eager to embrace which clear and challenging student go to very this challenge and willing to shoulder a full achievement standards are embedded. different school share of the work that meeting it will Enforce high standards ofbehavior systems in require. We have also, however, lived Without clear standards of conduct, a through too many educational fads and ill- America, and small number of unruly students can dis- conceived improvement ideas to accept all rupt an entire school and impede the learn-changing this reform proposals on faith. We cannot sup- ing of all students. The consequences for port yet another round of quick-fix gim- is part of our misbehavior must be fairly and consistently micks or ask our members and students to enforced. Students who cannot or will not unfinished suffer the consequences of painful remedies abide by these guidelines should be placed that have little chance of improving mat- agenda. It is a in an appropriate alternative setting until ters. Instead, we seek to help shape and fight we intend they demonstrate that they can meet the implement effective intervention policies expected standards of behavior. to make more that: Use criteria for the identification oflow-per- strongly than Are grounded in high academic standards forming schools that are clear and under- The first essential step in improving ever, with your low-performing schoolsand the U.S. stood by all stakeholders help and education system as a wholeis to estab- Just as academic standards help students lish clear standards for what students are understandand meetacademic expec- involvement tations, schools with clear performance expected to know and be able to do. This standards have