GOOD AFTERNOON. I AM DELIGHTED TO JOIN YOU THIS AFTERNOON TO SALUTE THE EXCEPTIONAL COMMITMENT EDUCATORS HAVE MADE TO OUR CITY---SHAPING THE MINDS OF OUR CHILDREN. YOU HAVE DEVOTED YOUR CAREER, YOUR ENERGY, YOUR TIME AND YOUR TALENT TO RAISING OUR CHILDREN EDUCATIONALLY AND SOMETIMES EVEN MORE SO. THAT INDEED IS NOTEWORTHY.

· I COME BEFORE YOU TODAY AS A PROUD K-12 GRADUATE OF OUR DC PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAVING ATTENDED LOGAN ELEMENTARY, LANGLEY JUNIOR HIGH AND DUNBAR HIGH SCHOOL, WHICH PREPARED ME THEN TO GO ON TO UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE SCHOOL AT GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY.

· I COME BEFORE YOU AS THE SON-IN-LAW OF A CAREER EDUCATOR AS MY MOTHER-IN-LAW TAUGHT FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS IN THE DC PUBLIC SCHOOLS AT PLACES LIKE SHADD AND GARFIELD ELEMENTRAY, CREATIVELY WORKING WITH KINDERGARTEN AND FIRST-GRADE STUDENTS.

· I COME BEFORE YOU TODAY AS THE HUSBAND OF MY NOW LATE WIFE LORETTA, WHO SPENT HER CAREER AS A PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER AT SCHOOLS LIKE GIBBS AND WINSTON EDUCATIONAL CENTER WHERE SHE WAS A HARD-WORKING, INNOVATIVE READING SPECIALIST WHO HELPED TRANSFORM LIVES THAT OTHERWISE WOULD HAVE BEEN LOST TO THE DISMAL EXISTENCE OF A DROP-OUT WITH LITTLE HOPE FOR A PRODUCTIVE AND PROMISING FUTURE.

· AND I COME BEFORE YOU TODAY AS SOMEONE WHO, LIKE YOU, HAS A GREAT STAKE IN THE FUTURE OF PUBLIC EDUCATION IN THE CITY.

MY FRIENDS, WE ARE A CROSSROADS, A PIVOTAL MOMENT IN THE LIFE OF PUBLIC EDUCATION. IN THE MID-60’S, THERE WERE 144,000 STUDENS ENROLLED IN OUR TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS. TODAY THAT NUMBER HAS DWINDLED TO 55,000 AS FAMILIES HAVE LEFT AND PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS HAVE EMERGED AS A FORCE, NOW WITH OVER 20,000 STUDENTS AND GROWING RAPIDLY.

THE UNTHINKABLE HAS HAPPENED. PEOPLE, IN INCREASING NUMBERS ARE AKSING IF THERE IS A PLACE FOR TRADITIONAL PUBLIC EDUCATION ANYMORE OR SHOULD WE SIMPLY DECLARE DEFEAT, FOLD UP THE TENT AND ACKNOWLEDGE THAT PUBLIC EDUCATION AS WE HAVE KNOWN IT IS PASSE’.

WELL, I FOR ONE, AM NOT READY TO THROW IN THE TOWEL BECAUSE, WITHOUT A SOLID PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM, THERE IS NO HOPE FOR MANY OF OUR CHILDREN. IN A FREE AND DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY, EDUCATION SHOULD NOT BE JUST FOR THE PRIVILEGED OR THE WELL-OFF BUT MUST BE AVAILABLE AS THE GREAT LIBERATOR GIVING THE SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY OPPRESSED A NEW OUTLOOK, NEW OPPORTUNITIES, NEW HOPE AND A NEW LIFE.

DESPITE ALL OF ITS FLAWS AND INEQUITIES, THE PROMISE OF A DECENT EDUCATION HAS BEEN ONE OF THE SHINING HALLMARKS OF AMERICA.

BUT LET’S FACE IT MY FRIENDS, THIS IS NOT THE ‘60’S NOR THE ‘70’S. OUR PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM IS IN DECLINE AND HAS BEEN FOR DECADES. AND IT WILL TAKE A HERCULEAN EFFORT TO TURN IT AROUND. BUT I MAINTAIN IT IS WORTH THE EFFORT.

THAT IS WHY THE MAYOR AND THE COUNCIL HAVE RECENTLY TAKEN THE BOLD STEP TO CHANGE THE GOVERNANCE APPROACH OF OUR PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM. FOR DECADES, OUR SYSTEM, LIKE MANY IN THE NATION, HAS BEEN GOVERNED BY A BOARD OF EDUCATION THAT AT TIMES WAS ELECTED, OTHER TIMES APPOINTED, AND NOW PARTIALLY ELECTED AND PARTIALLY APPOINTED. OUR SYSTEM HAS BEEN SO CONVOLUTED THAT IT OFTEN HAS BEEN HARD TO KNOW WHO WAS IN CHARGE. AND, AT TIMES, IT APPEARED TO BE EVERYONE AND THEREFORE NO ONE.

· SUPERINTENDENTS COMING AND GOING SO RAPIDLY, THEY HAD NO CHANCE TO MAKE ANY REAL AND LASTING IMPACT, THUS CREATING MORE INSTABILITY IN AN ALREADY FRAGILE SYSTEM.

· PRINCIPALS FEELING UNSUPPORTED AS THEY FACE OVERWHELMING ODDS.

· TEACHERS WITHOUT BASIC SUPPLIES, LATE ARRIVING TEXTBOOKS, AND OVERCROWDED CLASSES.

· STUDENTS WHO DROPOUT IN EPIDEMIC NUMBERS BEFORE THEY GRADUATE HIGH SCHOOL, WHILE INCREASING NUMBERS NEVER DROP-IN IN THE FIRST PLACE, LEAVING BEFORE THEY GET TO HIGH SCHOOL.

· PARENTS, WHO ONCE WERE THE BEDROCK OF THE SYSTEM, NOW, IN FAR TOO MANY NUMBERS, SEEMING LIFE THE ENEMY AS THEY ENGAGE IN ADVERSARIAL RELATIONSHIPS WITH PRINCIPALS AND TEACHERS. WHO CAN FORGET THE DISGUSTING AND DISGRACEFUL SCENE RECENTLY AT ONE OF OUR HIGH SCHOOLS WHERE PARENTS ENGAGED IN AN ALTERCATION FIRST WITH TEACHERS AND THEN OUTSIDE WITH EACH OTHER.

· WATCHING SCHOOL BUILDINGS NEGLECTED FOR YEARS NOW CRUMBLING BEFORE OUR VERY EYES.

· AND WATCHING SCHOOLS EXPECTED TO BE THE ANSWER TO HEALTH AND SOCIAL ILLS WHICH CHILDREN BRING TO SCHOOL IN RECORD NUMBERS AND STYMIE THEIR ABILITYTO EFFECTIVELY BENEFIT FROM AN EDUCATION. AKSING TEACHERS TO BE PSYCHIATRISTS, PSYCHOLOGISTS, SOCIAL WORKERS, MOTHERS, AND FATHERS, WHILE EDUCATING OUR CHILDREN.

THOSE ARE JUST SOME OF THE REASONS WHY IT IS TIME FOR A CHANGE MY FRIENDS.

CAN ANYONE SAY WITH CERTAINTY THAT THE CHANGE AFOOT WILL CURE THE ILLS OF PUBLIC EDUCATION? OF COURSE NOT. BUT WE DO KNOW THAT WHAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING RECENTLY NO LONGER IS WORKING.

SO WHAT DOES THIS NEW APPROACH ENTAIL?

· THE MAYOR WILL ASSUME RESPONISBILITY FOR SCHOOL GOVERNANCE AND THE SUPERINTENDENT, WHO NOW WILL BE KNOWN AS CHANCELLOR, WILL REPORT DIRECTLY TO THE MAYOR. THIS IS A MODEL THAT HAS BEEN IMPLEMENTED IN NEW YORK, CHICAGO, AND IS BEING PROPOSED IN A NUMBER OF OTHER CITIES AT THIS POINT.

· THE BOARD OF EDUCATION ONCE AGAIN WILL BECOME AN ALL-ELECTED BODY, EFFECTIVE WITH THE ELECTION IN NOVEMBER 2008. BUT THE BOARD WILL BECOME A STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION, NOT ADVISORY AS MANY HAVE THOUGHT, BUT WITH AUTHORITY IN A NUMBER OF AREAS. FOR EXAMPLE, THEY WILL:

-APPROVE ACADEMIC STANDARDS

-APPROVE HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

-APPROVED GED STANDARDS

-APPROVE AYP DEFINITION

-APPROVE STANDARDS FOR HIGHLY QUALIFIED TEACHERS

-APPROVE STANDARDS FOR TEACHER PREP PROGRAMS

-APPROVE NCLB STATE ACCOUNTABILITY PLAN

-APPROVE POLICES FOR PARENT INVOLVEMENT

-APPROVE RESIDENCY RULES

-APPROVE CHARTER ACCREDITATION ORGANIZATIONS

-APPROVE SCHOOL ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS

ä A NEW DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION HAS BEEN CREATED WITH AN EXPANDED STATE EDUCATION OFFICE. FOR THE FIRST TIME, THERE WILL BE A FULL SEPARATION OF STATE AND LOCAL EDUCATION FUNCTIONS WITH ALL LOCAL FUNCTIONS UNDER THE CHANCELLOR AND STATE DUTIES UNDER A STATE SUPERINTENDENT. THIS WILL BE LIKE ALL OTHER STATES IN THE NATION WHERE THE STATE HAS OVERSIGHT OVER MANY OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE CITY AND COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEMS. EARLY CHILDHOOD ECUATION WILL MOVE FROM DHS AND ADULT LITERACTY ALSO WILL MOVE OVER FROM UDC UNDER THE STATE EDUCATION OFFICE.

ä A NEW OMBUDSMAN OFFICE WILL BE CREATED TO ADDRESS IN A SYSTEMATIC WAY THE CONCERN OF PARENTS AND OTHER CITIZENS. HERETOFORE, PARENTS HAVE GONE TO TEACHERS, PRINCIPALS, CENTRAL ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS, THE BOARD OF EDUCATION, THE CITY COUNCIL, THE MAYOR, THE NEWSPAPERS AND VIRTUALLY ANYONE WHO WILL LISTEN. THE OMBUDSMAN’S OFFICE IS AN EFFORT TO GIVE PARENTS AND OTHER CITIZENS A PLACE TO EXPRESS CONCERNS AND HOPEFULLY FIND ANSWERS. AND LET ME SAY, THIS IS NOT AT ALL TO REPLACE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PRINCIPALS, TEACHERS AND PARENTS.

ä A NEW INTERAGENCY COLLABORATION AND SERVICES INTEGRATION COMMISSION HAS BEEN DEVELOPED. WITH DCPS NOW BEING ANOTHER AGENCY UNDER THE MAYOR, IT CREATES AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE INTERAGENCY INVOLVEMENT IN WAYS NOT PREVIOUSLY SEEN. WE KNOW THE PROBLEMS OF MANY OF OUR CHILDREN AND YOUTH EXPERIENCE ARE LARGER THATN EDUCATION AND THE SCHOOLS MUST HAVE HELP FROM OTHER AGENCIES LIKE, HEALTH, MENTAL HEALTH, EMPLOYMENT SERVICES, CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES AND YOUTH REHABILITATION.

ä A NEW OFFICE OF PUBLIC EDUCATION FACILITES MODERNIZATION IS BEING ESTABLISHED. ITS SOLE FOCUS IS TO REBUILD SCHOOLS. THE COUNCIL SPENT A GREAT DEAL OF TIME WORKING ON HOW THIS AGENCY SHOULD OPERATE. AND LET ME ASSURE YOU THE MONEY IS THERE. THE COUNCIL HAS APPROVED AROUND $200 MILLION TO BE SPENT EACH YEAR ON THE CONSTRUTION AND MODERNIZATION OF SCHOOLS AND WE ALREADY HAVE BEGUN. WE APPROVED THE FIRST CONTRACT JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO FOR H.D. COOKE AND THERE IS MORE TO FOLLOW. THIS IS AN AREA WHERE WE CAN MAKE AN IMMEDIATE IMPACT, SO PEOPLE AT LEAST CAN SEE A CHANGE IN THE BUILDINGS WHERE OUR CHILDREN ARE EDUCATED.

ä TWO AREAS WHERE A HUGE AMOUNT OF WORK WILL BE NEEDED ARE SPECIAL EDUCATION AND RESTORING VOCATIONAL EDUCATION TO OUR SCHOOLS.

OUR SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAM IS IN DESPERATE SHAPE. THERE ARE:

--TOO MANY CHILDREN IN SPECIAL EDUCATION – 1 IN EVERY 5 STUDENTS.

--TOO MANY CHILDREN ARE IN PRIVATE PLACEMENTS AND NEED TO HAVE PROGRAMS IN OUR OWN SCHOOLS.

--TOO MANY CHILDREN COME FROM CERTAIN PARTS OF THE CITY WHERE WE NEED TO RECOGNIZE THAT THEM BEING IN SPECIAL EDUCATION IS A FUNCTION OF THEIR ENVIRONMENT AND NOT THEIR POTENTIAL.

--TOO MUCH MONEY IS SPENT ON SPECIAL EDUCATION FOR TOO LITTLE RETURN. WE SPEND OVER $300 MILLION ON SPECIAL EDUCATION -- $72 MILLION ALONE ON TRANSPORTATION.

NOW, IF MANY OF OUR CHILDREN ARE TO HAVE A REAL CAREER, WITH REAL JOBS THAT PAY REAL MONEY, WE MUST RESTORE VOCATIONAL EDUCATION. WHY DID WE EVER STOP??? BUT AS WE MOVE IN THAT DIRECTION, WE ALSO NEED TO MAKE SURE WE SOLVE THE PROBLEMS OF THE PAST. OUR TRAINING MUST BE TIED TO JOBS THAT EXIST IN THE CITY. AND WE SHOULD WORK TOWARDS COMPREHENSIVE HIGHT SCHOOLS WHERE THERE IS AN ELEMENT OF VOCATIONAL EDUCATION IN EVERY HIGH SCHOOL, AVAILABLE TO EVERY STUDENT WHO WISHES TO PARTICIPATE.

ä THE COUNCIL IS DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT MEASURING PROGRESS IN ACHIEVING THE CHANGE PROPOSED IN PUBLIC EDUCATION. THEREFORE, WE ARE REQUIRING AND ANNUAL INDEPENDENT EVALUATION BY SOMEONE OUTSIDE THE SYSTEM AND OUTSIDE THE GOVERNMENT. WE WILL ESTABLISH BENCHMARKS FOR PROGRESS AND EACH YEAR LOOK AT WHETHER THOSE GOALS HAVE BEEN ACHIEVED. AT THE END OF 5 YEARS, WE WILL CONDUCT A COMPREHENSIVE EVALUATION IN ORDER TO DETERMINE WHETHER THIS IS WORKING AND WHAT CHANGES SHOULD BE MADE.

WE HAVE MUCH WORK AHEAD AND I ASK YOU TO JOIN US IN SAVING OUR KIDS. ALL OF US MUST TAKE PART IN TURNING THIS AROUND BECAUSE OUR FUTURE IS AT STAKE. A FAILED EDUCATION SYSTEM PUTS ALL OF US AT RISK.

WITH YOUR EXPERTISE AND HISTORY OF COMMITMENT, YOU CAN PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE:

I ASK YOU TO COME TO A SCHOOL REGULARLY AND READ TO THE CHILDREN. DON’T JUST BUY THEM A BOOK. DISCUSS WITH THEM WHAT THEY’VE READ. HELP THEM UNDERSTAND. AND ENCOURAGE THEM TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES.

SO MY FRIENDS, I EXTEND MY APPRECIATION TO YOU FOR YOUR LIFETIME OF SERVICES YOU HAVE CARED AND YOU HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE. WE NEED YOUR HELP AND YOUR SUPPORT AND I ASK YOU TO STAY INVOLVED.

IN CLOSING, I AM REMINDED OF THE WORDS OF ROBERT F. KENNEDY:

“EACH TIME A MAN STANDS UP FOR AN IDEAL, OR ACTS TO IMPROVE THE LOT OF OTHERS, OR STRIKES OUT AGAINST INJUSTICE, HE SENDS FORTH A TINY RIPPLE OF HOPE... AND CROSSING EACH OTHER FROM A MILLION DIFFERENT CENTERS OF ENERGY AND DARING THOSE RIPPLES BUILD A CURRENT THAT CAN SWEEP DOWN THE MIGHTIEST WALLS OF OPPRESSION AND RESISTANCE.”

MY FRIENDS, WE HAVE DONE IT BEFORE AND WE CAN DO IT AGAIN.

THANK YOU.