Ashley Swanson

ED 250-Foundations of Education

“It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought

without accepting it.”-Aristotle

Quote:

Discuss “Waiting for Superman”

The Teaching ProfessionLocal, State, & Federal Government Roles in Education

Today’s Topics:

Article & Video Discussions

The Teaching Profession

Characteristics of a profession: A sense of public service; a lifetime of commitment to career A defined body of knowledge and skills beyond that grasped by

laypeople A lengthy period of specialized training Control over licensing standards and/or entry requirements Autonomy in making decisions about selected spheres of work An acceptance of responsibility for judgments made and acts

performed related to services rendered; a set of performance standards

A self-governing organization composed of members of the profession

Professional associations and/or elite groups to provide recognition for individual achievements

A code of ethics to help clarify ambiguous matters or doubtful points related to services rendered

High prestige and economic standing

Is Teaching A Profession?

Teaching lags behind other professions, such as law and medicine in the following areas:

A defined body of knowledge and skills beyond that grasped by laypeople

Control over licensing standards and or entry requirements

Autonomy in making decisions about selected work spheres

High prestige and economic standing

Is Teaching A Profession?

Helping children grow and learnChallenging professionFavorable work conditionsInspired by a favorite teacherSense of honor in being a teacher

Motivations for Becoming a Teacher

Although the U.S. school population is becoming more diverse, the teaching force is not keeping up.

40 % of the public school student population is African American, Asian American, and Hispanic, but the proportion of teachers from those minority groups estimated to be less than 17%.

Why do you think increasing teaching force diversity to better reflect the student population is widely viewed as an important goal?

Teaching Force Diversity

Increase in teaching positions in the next decade because:The post WWII baby boom generation created a mini

baby boom of its own and most of those children attend K-12 schools

Increase in immigration to the United StatesSignificant proportion of current teaching force will

reach retirement age in this decadeReformers are attempting to reduce class size, expand

preschool education, and place greater emphasis on mathematics and science, which will all require more teachers

Increase of teacher standards is limiting the supplyMore nonpublic schools being formed in many locations

Job Opportunities

Fields where there is always a teacher shortage:Special EducationRemedial EducationBilingual EducationScience FieldMathematics FieldForeign LanguageRural and suburban communities with rapid

population growth

Job Opportunities

Pay Scales and Trends

From the 2001-2002 school year to the 2011-2012 school year average salaries for public school teachers changed -2.8%

States with largest increases in average salaries:Wyoming (18.4%)District of Colombia (14.4%)Massachusetts (14.1%)North Dakota (11.9 %)Montana (10.6%)

32 states saw significant declines (5% or more) in average teaching salaries:North Carolina (-15.7%) Indiana (-10.1%) Illinois & Virginia (-8.7%)Michigan (-8.1%)

Pay Scales and Trends

Merit pay is a supplement pay to a teachers base salary to reward superior performance.

Many school districts throughout the United States are implementing merit pay because they believe these incentives are necessary to improve overall teacher quality by motivating classroom teachers and encouraging high quality teachers to enter and stay in the profession.

Do you think teachers should receive merit pay?

Merit Pay

In national surveys, over 50% of teachers reported being atleast “somewhat satisfied” with their jobs.Over half of these teachers reported that they were

more satisfied with their jobs at the beginning of their careers than after they had been teaching for a period of time.

Job Satisfaction and Dissatisfaction

Teachers dissatisfaction with their jobs centered around the following: Insufficient time for counseling students Insufficient time for lesson planning Insufficient time for completing other instructional

functionsAmbiguity in supervisors expectations & unresponsive

administrationObligations to participate in irrelevant staff developmentLack of supplies Inadequate salariesExtensive paperworkStress caused by state and district standards

Job Satisfaction and Dissatisfaction

Government Roles in Education

A procedure for resolving disagreements between employers and employees through negotiation. For teachers, such negotiation pertains to many aspects of their work and salary as well as their relationship with students, supervisors, and the community.

Collective Bargaining

Over 80% of teachers have their representative formally bargain for them.

In 34/50 states, school districts are required by law to bargain with teachers.

In 11/50 states, collective bargaining is allowed, but not legally required.

In 5/50 states teachers are prohibited from collective bargaining.

Collective Bargaining

Collective bargaining is under attack in several states because state lawmakers are wanting to reduce the scope of collective bargaining.

Teacher evaluation, salaries, and tenure are a few of the major issues that that lawmakers and government officials want removed from the collective bargaining table.

Collective Bargaining

National Education Association (NEA)Involved in education on the local, state, and

national levelIncludes both teachers and administratorsOne of the top lobbying forces in the countryOnly supports teachers going on strike as a last

resortOffers a wide range of professional services:

Insurance programsFinancial servicesMember discount with various businesses

Professional Organizations

American Federation of Teachers (AFT)Affiliated with the American Federation of

Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) labor union

Membership offered to other school related personal such as: paraprofessionals, custodial staff, nurses, etc.

More readily endorses strike as a dispute resolution

Offers professional services:Legal servicesInsurance programs

Professional Organizations

NEA AFT

Total Membership (2011)

3,200,000 1,500,000

Members who are classroom teachers

2,150,000 850,000

President Dennis Van Roekel Randi Weingarten

President’s Terms 3 years (maximum 6 years/ person)

2 years (no maximum)

Organizational View Professional association

Union affiliation AFL-CIO

Geographic Strength Suburban and rural areas

Large and medium size cities

Professional Organizations

Focus: Specific Subject MatterFocus: Students and General Education

Issue

American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance

American Association for Gifted Children

American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages

American Montessori Society

American School Health Association Association for Childhood Education International

The Association for Career and Technical Education Association for Experiential Education

Association for Education in Journalism Association for Middle Level Education

International Reading AssociationAssociation for Supervision and Curriculum

Development

International Technology and Engineering Educators Association

Council for Exceptional Children

Modern Language Association Learning Disabilities Association of America

Music Teachers National AssociationNational Association for the Education of Young

Children

National Art Education Association Phi Delta Kappa

National Business Education Association Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages

National Council for the Social Studies

National Council for Teachers of English

National Council for Teachers of Mathematics

National Science Teachers Association

NameMembership

ProfileFocus Major Publications

National Education

Agency Student Program

Undergraduate & Graduate

Future Teachers, Understanding the Profession, Liability

Insurance

Tomorrow’s Teachers

Pi Lambda ThetaUndergraduate &

GraduateInternational Honor Society, Promotes Professionalism

Educational Horizons

Pi Delta KappaUndergraduate &

Graduate

Professional Association, Policies,

Research, Leadership

Phi Delta Kappan

Kappa Delta PiUndergraduate &

GraduateInternational Honor

Society

The Educational Forum, New Teacher Advocate, Kappa Delta Pi Record

American Educational

Research Association

GraduateResearch and Application

Educational Researcher, American Educational

Research Journal, Review of Educational Research, Educational Evaluation and Policy

Analysis

Professional Organizations Students Can Join

Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) or 1965, under President Lyndon B. Johnson, is one of the most influential federal legislations every passed by Congress.Funds primary and secondary educationEmphasizes equal access to educationEstablishes high standards and accountabilityAct is reauthorized every 5 years

Federal Government

U.S. Department of Education is the primary federal education agency.

The Department of Education is responsible for:Administering grant funds and contracting with state

departments of education, school districts, and colleges and universities

Engaging in educational innovation and researchProviding leadership and consultative services

related to educationThe secretary of education advises the president,

manages educational policies, and promotes programs to carry out the policies, exerts persuasion and pressure in political and educational circles

Federal Government

Over the past 20 years, teacher quality has increasingly been recognized as a prominent determinant of students’ performance, even after account is taken of their family background and previous achievement.

Reformers have designated improvement in teacher quality as a centerpiece of two major federal programs: No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB)Race to the Top (RTTT)

Federal Government

No Child Left Behind ActPassed in 2001 by President George W. Bush“Represents a sweeping overhaul of federal efforts

to support elementary and secondary education” and “ sets the goal of having every child making the grade on state-defined education standards by the end of the 2013-2014 school year” (Ornstein, Levine, Gutek, & Vocke,19).

NCLB outlines the minimum qualifications needed by teachers and paraprofessionals.“Highly Qualified Teacher”

A bachelor’s degreeFull state certification and licensureDemonstrated competency in each core subject he/she teaches

Federal Government

No Child Left Behind ActImprove low-performing schools Uses measured annual performance tests in

reading and mathematics to hold state and local school districts accountable for student performance

NCLB has put more federal influence on schools than any other time in history

Major Criticism: Despite the somewhat increased funding levels, NCLB is accused of being an “unfunded mandate” that infringes upon the authority of the state and local educational agencies.

Federal Government

Race to the TopInitiated in 2009Provides competitive grants for projects that

reform educational systems and improve student achievement

Billions of dollars in grants were provided by the federal government to:Improve Standards and AssessmentSupport Early Childhood Education ProgramsRecruit, Reward, and Retain Quality Teachers and

AdministratorsImprove Achievement in Low-Performing Schools

Federal Government

The state government is responsible for supporting and maintaining the public schools within its borders. This includes:Enacting legislationDetermining state school taxes and financial aid to

local districtsSetting minimum standards for training and

recruiting personnelDeveloping state curriculum standardsEstablishing assessment requirementsSchool accreditationsProviding services, such as student transportation

State Government

State Government

GovernorVary widely across statesResponsibilities can include:

Making educational budget recommendationsDelegating accumulated balances in the budget to

educationAppoint or remove school personnel at the state

level and sometimes local superintendent levelAppoint members of the state board of education

and the chief state school officerVeto or threaten to veto educational measures

State Government

LegislaturePrimary responsibilities include:

Establishing and maintaining the public schoolsEnacting laws pertaining to education

Powers are limited by restrictions from court decisions and the federal and state constitutions

Other responsibilities:Determines that nature and level of state taxes for schools

and taxing powers for local school districtsDetermines basic parameters of teaching an instruction

including: What can and cannot be taught How many years of education are required (some states do not

require kindergarten) Length of the school day and school year

State Government

State Board of EducationMost influential and important state education agencyMinnesota and Wisconsin do not have State Boards of

EducationServes as an advisory function for the legislatureFunctions vary from state to state, but most develop the

rules to implement the laws enacted by the legislatureCan be appointed or elected depending on the stateAreas of common jurisdiction across states:

Setting state curriculumsEstablishing high school graduation requirementSetting certification standards for school personnelDeveloping accountability and assessments for the stateCreating the accreditation policy and teacher preparation

programsImplementing the mandates of NCLB

State Government

Chief State School OfficerAKA State Superintendent or Commissioner of

EducationHead of the State Department of Education and

is the Chief Executive of the state school boardAppointment varies depending on the state

Can be appointed by the governor, by the state board of education, or by popular election

Responsibilities vary greatly depending on the state

State Government

State Department of EducationAdministered by the chief state school officerResponsibilities include:

Collecting and distributing statistics about the status of education within the states

Implement laws of the state legislature and regulations of the state board

Develop accountability systems Implement state wide assessmentsAid in the restructuring of schools that do not meet

adequate yearly progress (AYP)

State Government

Intermediate UnitsPresent in 33 statesRegional Educational Service Agencies (RESA) that serve

a given geographic areas educational needsLink between the State Department of Education and the

local school districtsMost commonly provide assistance to rural and smaller

schools whose administrative staff is small and financial resources are limited

Responsibilities include:Finding highly qualified teachersDeveloping assessmentsOperating data systemsProviding services to students with special needsProviding services for English language learners

State Government

Local Governme

nt

Every public school is part of a local school district, which is created by the state.

The jurisdiction of the school district can be modified by the state legislature.

Although limited by the state, local school boards assume significant responsibility pertaining to decision making.

Local school boards are the legislative policy Local school board selection process is

determined by state law. AppointmentElection (most common)

Local Government

School Board Responsibilities:Policy-sets general rules about who does what in schoolsStaffing-responsible for hiring all school district employeesEmployee Relations-collective bargaining with teachers

unionsFiscal Matters-manage the budget effectivelyStudents-rights, responsibilities, extracurriculars,

graduation, and attendanceCurriculum and Assessment-develops curriculum, approves

textbook selections, implement and report on high stakes testing

Community Relations-responds to parents and other community members

Intergovernmental Requirements-carrying out federal and state mandates

Local Government

Superintendent Superintendent is the chief executive officer of the

school system.Responsibilities of the Superintendent:

Gather data so school board can make informed policy decisions

Advisor to the school boardManagement of professional and nonteaching personnelLeadership in curriculum, instruction, and assessmentAdministrative management (district organization,

budgeting, long-range planning, complying with state and federal mandates)

Oversees day-to-day operationsSpokesperson for the school district

Local Government

National Education Agency. (2012). Rankings of States 2012 and Estimates of School Statistics 2013. Retrieved from: <http://www.nea.org/assets/img/content/NEA_Rankings_And_Estimates-2013_(2).pdf>

Ornstein, A.C., Levine, D.U., Gutek, G.L., & Vocke, D.E. (2014). Foundations of Education. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Cengage Learning.

U.S. Department of Education. (2014). No Child Left Behind Act. Retrieved from: http://www2.ed.gov/nclb/landing.jhtml

Main Sources