Workforce proposal challenges norms in education
By Bret Hayworth Journal staff writer | Posted: Wednesday, February 01, 2006
University of Northern Iowa president Robert Koob talks during an interview with the Journal’s editorial board Tuesday. (Staff photo by Tim Hynds)
As state legislators decide what to do about the Institute For Tomorrow's Workforce proposal to reinvigorate the state's K-12 education system, one of the biggest roadblocks to change is the old view of Iowa education.
That's the take of two of the 15 people who worked six months to prepare a nonpartisan report for the Legislature.
ITW cochairman and University of Northern Iowa President Robert Koob and Siouxland Chamber of Commerce President Debi Durham said the proposal includes raising Iowa teacher pay and moving to measuring performance-based results of all K-12 students, teachers and school districts. The report, in essence, Durham said, seeks to place more "rigor and relevance" onto the educational system.
But Koob and Durham said they know some Iowans -- and legislators -- may resist the proposals, in part because of the perception that "Iowa is known for education," as Durham put it. But the reality is that Iowa standardized test scores are slipping relative to other states, she added.
"We've been slowly fading down, fading down in (financial) support, fading down in scores," Koob said. He said Iowa has fallen in per-pupil spending rankings over the last 10 years, from 25th nationally to 37th place.
Koob said the old ways won't serve Iowans well, as the economy is now technology- and information-based and other nations are surging ahead in preparation of students. He related a conversation with a person in China last year, who stated, "we don't expect to catch up, we expect to pass you."
While noting that local control of school systems is an Iowa hallmark she supports, Durham noted the report found that a student can graduate with only two years of math in 47 percent of Iowa high schools and two years of science in 59 percent of schools. Therefore, it is recommended that the suggested course of study for Iowa schools would move to three years of math, three years of lab science, four years of English and two years of language other than English.
Although Iowa lawmakers in 2001 moved to raise teacher pay and pay extra to veteran teachers who mentor new teachers, the measures waned after the state's budget troubles through 2004. Now it is time to reinstitute that push, Koob said, especially since Iowa's national teacher pay rank has dropped from 38th to 41st in the last five years.
The pricetag to raise teacher pay is proposed at $300 million over two years, a number that has raised eyebrows of some holding the state's purse strings. "One of the legislators told us we were foolish to put a dollar figure on this," Koob said. Durham said "it is unfortunate" the $300 million figure has gotten so much of the publicity about the ITW proposals.
ITW also suggests paying more to attract teachers in hard-to-fill categories like math and science, a proposal House Republicans have discussed in 2006.
"We want to pay more to professionalize the (teaching) profession," Durham said, adding that it is warranted, because other parts of the ITW report could require more of teachers. When it comes to teacher pay, Koob said, "we don't want to pay for the talent we've got." That's unfortunate, he said, since many Iowans educated in Iowa colleges will go off to teach in other states to receive more pay.
Durham said nothing in the Institute For Tomorrow's Workforce report will require consolidating small school districts. Koob said if sufficient school services are provided to students, the size of the school isn't important. "If that can be done in a small school, more power to you," he said. "We resisted saying 'Close small schools.'"
Koob talked at length about how the "culture of a school district" can determine whether it advances or stymies learning. He noted in some schools with supportive administrators, teachers can experiment to help students flourish. And teachers recognize that, Koob contended, saying that good teachers will move on from districts that quash such creativity.
He said one of the two school districts he taught at before moving into university life maintained a poor school culture. Koob recalled prepping for chemistry class the night before the first day of the year -- and being "arrested by the sheriff," since the ethic at the time was that no one could be in the school after-hours.
Koob said Institute for Tomorrow's Workforce members will likely speak about the report in February to a legislative committee, and Durham said they will continue to barnstorm the state to publicize report highlights.
If given the go-ahead by the legislature, one of the next tasks of the institute members will be to "begin the process to develop the performance indicators" to measure student and school district performance, Koob said.
If the Legislature uses the report "to really look at the delivery system" of education, Durham said, "then you are going to see bold change within public education in this state, and that is what is excites me about this report. It is data-rich and based on good, scientific data."
The report can be found at www.tomorrowsworkforce.org.
Bret Hayworth may be reached at (712) 293.4203 or brethayworth@siouxcityjournal.com
That's the take of two of the 15 people who worked six months to prepare a nonpartisan report for the Legislature.
ITW cochairman and University of Northern Iowa President Robert Koob and Siouxland Chamber of Commerce President Debi Durham said the proposal includes raising Iowa teacher pay and moving to measuring performance-based results of all K-12 students, teachers and school districts. The report, in essence, Durham said, seeks to place more "rigor and relevance" onto the educational system.
But Koob and Durham said they know some Iowans -- and legislators -- may resist the proposals, in part because of the perception that "Iowa is known for education," as Durham put it. But the reality is that Iowa standardized test scores are slipping relative to other states, she added.
"We've been slowly fading down, fading down in (financial) support, fading down in scores," Koob said. He said Iowa has fallen in per-pupil spending rankings over the last 10 years, from 25th nationally to 37th place.
Koob said the old ways won't serve Iowans well, as the economy is now technology- and information-based and other nations are surging ahead in preparation of students. He related a conversation with a person in China last year, who stated, "we don't expect to catch up, we expect to pass you."
While noting that local control of school systems is an Iowa hallmark she supports, Durham noted the report found that a student can graduate with only two years of math in 47 percent of Iowa high schools and two years of science in 59 percent of schools. Therefore, it is recommended that the suggested course of study for Iowa schools would move to three years of math, three years of lab science, four years of English and two years of language other than English.
Although Iowa lawmakers in 2001 moved to raise teacher pay and pay extra to veteran teachers who mentor new teachers, the measures waned after the state's budget troubles through 2004. Now it is time to reinstitute that push, Koob said, especially since Iowa's national teacher pay rank has dropped from 38th to 41st in the last five years.
The pricetag to raise teacher pay is proposed at $300 million over two years, a number that has raised eyebrows of some holding the state's purse strings. "One of the legislators told us we were foolish to put a dollar figure on this," Koob said. Durham said "it is unfortunate" the $300 million figure has gotten so much of the publicity about the ITW proposals.
ITW also suggests paying more to attract teachers in hard-to-fill categories like math and science, a proposal House Republicans have discussed in 2006.
"We want to pay more to professionalize the (teaching) profession," Durham said, adding that it is warranted, because other parts of the ITW report could require more of teachers. When it comes to teacher pay, Koob said, "we don't want to pay for the talent we've got." That's unfortunate, he said, since many Iowans educated in Iowa colleges will go off to teach in other states to receive more pay.
Durham said nothing in the Institute For Tomorrow's Workforce report will require consolidating small school districts. Koob said if sufficient school services are provided to students, the size of the school isn't important. "If that can be done in a small school, more power to you," he said. "We resisted saying 'Close small schools.'"
Koob talked at length about how the "culture of a school district" can determine whether it advances or stymies learning. He noted in some schools with supportive administrators, teachers can experiment to help students flourish. And teachers recognize that, Koob contended, saying that good teachers will move on from districts that quash such creativity.
He said one of the two school districts he taught at before moving into university life maintained a poor school culture. Koob recalled prepping for chemistry class the night before the first day of the year -- and being "arrested by the sheriff," since the ethic at the time was that no one could be in the school after-hours.
Koob said Institute for Tomorrow's Workforce members will likely speak about the report in February to a legislative committee, and Durham said they will continue to barnstorm the state to publicize report highlights.
If given the go-ahead by the legislature, one of the next tasks of the institute members will be to "begin the process to develop the performance indicators" to measure student and school district performance, Koob said.
If the Legislature uses the report "to really look at the delivery system" of education, Durham said, "then you are going to see bold change within public education in this state, and that is what is excites me about this report. It is data-rich and based on good, scientific data."
The report can be found at www.tomorrowsworkforce.org.
Bret Hayworth may be reached at (712) 293.4203 or brethayworth@siouxcityjournal.com
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