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Old Schoolhouse Classroom
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The Bottom Line WA’s Children Can’t Stride Into the Future in a 19th-Century Education System

Originally published at The Seattle Times

A recent Seattle Times editorial blames much of the failings of Seattle Public Schools on the current administration [“Seattle Public Schools create chaos instead of community,” Feb. 19, Opinion]. Certainly, the current as well as prior administrations deserve criticism. But so do a lot of other players.

The poor performance of Seattle Public Schools did not happen overnight. It has been going on for decades. Since 2004, the district has had seven superintendents, numerous strikes (the latest just before the opening of this school year), several financial crises and a number of dysfunctional school boards — not exactly a portrait of success. In addition, the district now spends $22,000 per student. Yet test scores are no better than they were 30 years ago.

So, who is to blame for this unacceptable performance? It’s a long list.

Continue Reading at The Seattle Times.

Donald Nielsen

Senior Fellow and Chairman, American Center for Transforming Education
Donald P. Nielsen is a Senior Fellow of Discovery Institute and Chairman of the Institute's program on public education reform. For nearly 30 years, he has devoted his life work to transforming public education. For two years, he traveled the country studying America's public education system and authored, Every School: One Citizen’s Guide to Transforming Education. Mr. Nielsen was awarded the Harvard Business School's 2004 Alumni Achievement Award. In 2009, he received the Leadership Award from the Foster School of Business at the University of Washington.
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