Memo to Congress: Sustain School Reform

A bad economy is no excuse to slow much-needed education reforms. Fixing, finally, the way we educate our most vulnerable students is not a luxury. Yet as Congress prepares for its August recess, Washington’s commitment to these students and the change they need is in doubt.

Two weeks ago, the House passed hefty cuts to the Race to the Top program, the Teacher Incentive Fund, and the Charter Schools program to help states plug holes in their education budgets.

Soon, the Senate will take up the issue. The choice: Raid the education-reform accounts or find other ways to help schools retain teachers. Early signs suggest that the Senate will protect the reform agenda and find other sources of funds to save school jobs.

But while the Senate giveth, the House may taketh away. Last week, a House Appropriations subcommittee recommended less funding than the administration asked for to finance competitive grant programs like Race to the Top and the Teacher Incentive Fund next fiscal year. Meanwhile, committee members voted to put more money than the administration requested into traditional education funding streams such as Title I and the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act.

Let’s be clear: Schools serving high proportions of low-income kids need Title I funding, but these students need more than Title I dollars that for decades have failed to improve the quality of their schools. They—and the nation—desperately need the kinds of bold reforms that Race to the Top and the Teacher Incentive Fund promise.

Though times are tough and Congress may be headed toward recess, our schoolchildren and our nation cannot afford to lose a dollar or a minute in the effort to boost student achievement and close the achievement gap.