President Obama pushes his education reform agenda

A reader has written to educate me that the Tenth Amendment to the United States Constitution reserved education as a state issue, not a federal issue. He writes the economy is a big enough national attention item and President Barack Obama should not get involved in state and local public education. This may be why in 1973, the United States Supreme Court ruled in San Antonio Independent School District v. Rodriguez 411 U.S. 1, 35 (1973), Plyer v. Doe (1982), “Education, of course, is not among the rights afforded explicit protection under our Federal Constitution.

However, in the District of Columbia everything is a congressional issue, from education to vehicle registration to taxi cab fares. Nothing would give District residents greater pleasure than to have the federal government and the Congress out of District affairs, especially local public education. That just does not happen. This is why District residents need to have full voting rights in the United States Senate and House of Representatives. (Hint Hint)

To push his domestic agenda further along while he still has the support of Americans, President Obama gave a strong address before the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce outlining his vision for America’s education in the 21st century. When The President said, “education is no longer just a pathway to opportunity and success, it is a prerequisite,” few people can differ with him. Students and parents want and deserve high quality public education, taught by highly qualified teachers, led by highly qualified school officials, to include highly qualified school chancellors.

Issues such as teacher merit pay, tougher education standards, longer school days, parental involvement, and greater community involvement should not be impediments to making America the leader in education again. Also, in his speech, President Obama highlighted Massachusetts as a benchmark for high education standards for students. Last year’s rise in test scores by DC public school students rightly can be attributed to DCPS standards based on the Massachusetts model and the master education plan instituted by former DCPS Superintendent Clifford Janey.

It will be a real challenge for politicians and school leaders in the District of Columbia and across America to move quickly to get better teachers into the classroom, develop tougher standards, measurable assessments, and devise innovative education programs for the 21st century. It will also be a difficult challenge but necessary goal for governors, mayors, council members, chancellors, superintendents, and business leaders not to exclude parents, teachers, and education advocates in helping our youth to achieve the American dream.