Learning is More Than A Test Score

Earlier this week the Gates Foundation suspended funding its efforts to get education reform on the radar screen for the presidential campaign. As far as a public campaign most would agree that the $60 million commitment (they actually only spent $24 million) had little impact. The foundation has declared success since they claim to have policy commitments from both campaigns on several key issues (key to them) which they say were their priorities such as paying teachers for performance – AKA merit pay – increasing choice, and a continued commitment to test-based accountability. As far as the competitiveness argument goes, it is hard to see any developed nation that has high test scores that has been immune to the deepening global economic crisis. In fact some of these nations in Europe will no doubt raise questions down the road as to why they have so handily embraced market-based capitalism in the first place.

For those still seeking information take heart. There is coming up an opportunity to get a deeper sense of how the two candidates differ on public education. Teachers College at Columbia University is sponsoring a debate on October 21, 2008.

Here is the information:

TC Hosts Education Debate Between Obama and McCain Advisors

Published: 10/7/2008

On Tuesday, October 21st, at 7 pm, Teachers College will host “Education and the Next President,” a debate between Linda Darling-Hammond, education advisor to Democratic Presidential nominee Barack Obama, and Lisa Graham Keegan, education advisor to Republican nominee John McCain.

TC President Susan Fuhrman will moderate the debate, which will take place in the College’s 600-seat Cowin Conference Center. The audience will consist primarily of Teachers College faculty, students and staff. The event will be live-streamed by Education Week & edweek.org at http://www.edweek.org/go/tcdebate, and by Teachers College at www.tc.edu/edadvisorsdebate. Both Education Week and Teachers College will archive the Webcast of the debate. The Education Week Webcast is being supported by the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP).