Reforming American Education Policy for the 21st Century

Abstract

This article reviews the concept of equal opportunity to learn over time as related to school finance systems; it discusses the current state of education finance and the need for redesigning funding structures and linking them to upgraded curriculum and equitable school practices to provide "aligned" education policy aimed at a high-quality education for all children and at all schools. The assumption is that curricular improvements and finance reforms work more effectively together than either would alone. The second but equally important set of linkages discussed is between aligned education policies, including finance systems, and community services dealing with health, welfare, juvenile justice, and social and rehabilitation services. These linkages would extend the reach of the current reforms through interagency collaboration to address the multiple and interlocking needs many children bring with them to school which create effective obstacles to learning.

Access to Better Education: The School Choice Experience of Families Served by Low-Performing Elementary Public Schools in Miami-Dade County

“…The court decision ruled that separate but equal was unconstitutional because of the unequal conditions, resources and outcomes between black and white segregated schools (Marshall and Gerstl-Pepin 2005). Black segregated schools lacked adequate facilities, qualified teachers, advanced courses, necessary resources, and bus transportation that white schools had (Verstegen 1994;Orfield and Yun 1999;Borman et al 2004;Orfield and Lee 2005 High School, but were blocked by the Arkansas National Guard who was ordered by the Governor to do so (Urban and Wagoner 2009). Some states discontinued funds for districts that complied with federal desegregation law.…”

“…Only with the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and subsequent legislation, was the court afforded the necessary power to begin to substantially enforce the Brown ruling (Verstegen 1994). In 1969, the Court ruled that districts must terminate dual school systems and operate a unitary one or federal funding would be withheld (Guthrie and Springer 2004).…”