Statement by Antonia Cortese, Executive Vice President,
American Federation of Teachers, on Proposal to Restructure Public Education

(The Commission on the Skills of the American Workforce proposes universal early childhood education, a system that streams students into different tracks based on a 10th-grade exam, independent contractors to run public schools, and a career ladder for teachers that includes higher salaries but lower pension benefits.)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – While the commission's proposal supports several key steps to improve our education system, it also includes some seriously flawed ideas with faddish allure that won’t produce better academic results.  If taken seriously, they would distract us from pursuing the pragmatic strategies that have the greatest chance for traction.

We don't need more experiments in governance.  We need to implement programs that have shown solid results–early  childhood education; excellent early reading instruction; massive early intervention to assure reading and math mastery; small classes in the early grades, especially in high-poverty schools; a rich curriculum; recruitment, training and retention of a strong teaching force; and effective principals.

On the proposal's plus side, AFT strongly agrees that universal early childhood education is an absolute necessity.  A good start provides an important foundation, especially for disadvantaged students.  The report recognizes the need for rigorous high school exams that can motivate students and help teachers focus on important academic priorities.  Also, the report identifies the importance of making teaching an attractive career choice that will require more pay and a career ladder that enables teachers to grow professionally. 

However, there are some seriously flawed ideas.  The proposal to dismantle school districts and sub-contract education to private entities is antithetical to school accountability and would create a haphazard policy of 'letting 1,000 flowers bloom.'  Voucher and charter schools haven’t shown consistent evidence of enhanced performance because greater autonomy is not the magic bullet to better results.

The commission proposes to move students out of high school after 10th grade and into technical schools and colleges based on new 10th-grade exam.  This would create an enormous upheaval that would disadvantage low-income students. We don't need a distracting, massive restructuring to help high schoolers reach high standards.  We do endorse, though, a high-quality, high-standards technical education program for non-college-bound students.  The nugget worth keeping is the need for a system of rigorous high school exams based on a rich curriculum.

Funding higher beginning-teacher salaries by reducing retirement benefits is an unacceptable shell game and not a serious way to attract and retain people who want to make teaching their life's career.   

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