Jeanne Allen: Economic Prosperity Starts With a Renewal of Our Education Promise

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Jan 24, 2012, 09:54 ET

Bailouts, handouts, and cop-outs continue to define, mar the Obama K-12 agenda

WASHINGTON, Jan. 24, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Jeanne Allen, President of The Center for Education Reform, released the following statement regarding Tuesday's State of the Union address as delivered by President Barack Obama:

"Tonight's address by President Obama spoke eloquently of the resourcefulness of the American people and the restoration of the American Dream, but neglected to come to terms with the long-broken promise to our nation's children, that of a robust, effective, and equal education. He spoke of rewarding great teachers, but again shied away from demanding that ineffective teachers be quickly removed from our schools. He spoke of other countries doubling down on education but again equated that with greater financial investment rather than the actual dedication necessary as showcased by other nations every single day in their effort to provide every child with educational opportunity.

"For three years, the President and his Secretary of Education have refused time and again to truthfully address that which continues to so obviously tear apart the fabric of our public education system – lack of public accountability for our teachers, lack of meaningful school choice for our parents, and the passive acceptance of a one-size-fits-all approach to the schooling of our country's children.

"During his address, President Obama spoke easily and often of innovation, responsibility, and momentum. Sadly, save for a very few shining examples, these core elements of progress continue to elude a great majority of our schools, and by extension, a great majority of our students.

"Boastful illustrations of failed policy initiatives such as 'Race to the Top' and an imperious sidestep of 'No Child Left Behind' guidelines merely obscure an education spending spree that serves to blindly secure the future of a volatile but reliable voting bloc of union members and sympathizers.

"If the President truly wished to draft an effective economic blueprint for success, he would look to the baseline indicator of our country's future promise – the education of our children. When less than 30 percent of our nation's high school seniors are proficient in math and science and more than a third of our college students find themselves in remedial classes, a dramatic priority shift must be demanded of our leaders. We have models that work to serve the best interests of our kids, and our country. It's time the President stops paying lip-service to education, starts supporting true innovation in our classrooms, and removes the unspoken barriers to our country's educational success. That's an America within our reach."

CER, since 1993, is the leading voice and advocate for lasting, substantive and structural education reform in the U.S. Additional information about the Center and its activities can be found at www.edreform.com.

SOURCE Center for Education Reform