Jeanne Allen: Innovation Must Begin in America's Schools

State of the Union addresses the problem, misses the solutions already before us

WASHINGTON, Jan. 25, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Jeanne Allen, President of The Center for Education Reform, released the following statement regarding tonight's State of the Union address as delivered by President Barack Obama:

"Once again, education has taken center stage in President Obama's State of the Union address to Congress and the American people, and once again, the President's intentions are at odds with his actions.

"This evening, the President called upon the American people to reinvent ourselves in order to meet an ever-changing global community and economy, and still his plans do not call for a true reinvention of our public education system to match this goal. He called upon Americans to innovate, yet did not highlight the fact that innovation in our schools is already occurring, despite heightened federal intervention.

"Charter schools, virtual education and school choice options such as the DC Opportunity Scholarship Program are true innovators when it comes to the education of our country's children. They already allow schools and school districts to reinvent the way families identify the best school environment for their children, free from the restrictive operational structure of conventional public schools.

"These schools are able to implement longer school days and school years, more time on task in the classroom, personalized curriculum options and a singular focus on our kids, rather than the adults who have become the greatest special interest in the education of America's children.

"The President decried the 'pouring of money into a system that's just not working,' ignoring the fact that his Administration has overseen the hemorrhaging of more than one hundred billion dollars into a public education system that has stubbornly stood still as student achievement levels have flat-lined. Less than five percent of this unprecedented influx of cash into our public schools has even been earmarked, much less applied, to the innovative programs the President's lofty rhetoric seems to support.

"On one aspect of education, the President is right – public schools are a local issue whose operation, innovation and reinvention should be directed by local voices. Washington's strings-attached, teacher-centric focus over the past two years has neither moved the ball forward nor pushed the envelope when it comes raising the achievement of our students.

"America remains a truly innovative and entrepreneurial nation at heart, but continuing down a path that emphasizes federal solutions over successful state innovations will undermine America's innovative progress, not strengthen it. A country that can invent the iPad should be free to innovate and flexibly manage its schools, teachers and industry."

The Center for Education Reform drives the creation of better educational opportunities for all children. CER changes laws, minds and cultures to allow good schools to flourish.

SOURCE Center for Education Reform