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NO ONE disputes that Hawaii's public schools need
improvement, but there has been no meeting of political minds on
what shape that reform will take. Governor Lingle, however, knows
what she wants and, to that end, has appointed a 22-member committee
to promote her agenda to decentralize the Department of Education,
establish local school boards, place budget authority and accountability
in the hands of principals and tie spending to the educational needs
of each student.
It's a promising plan; proponents say it has produced
remarkable results in communities in Canada and the mainland. But
if such sweeping changes are to be made in Hawaii, the governor
will need state lawmakers, teachers, administrators and other education
officials, as well as parents and members of the public to sign
on.
Lingle, in another of her signature high-profile events,
last week rolled out her education crusade in a forum that featured
management guru William Ouchi, a professor in corporate renewal
at UCLA, who advocates decentralized school systems in which principals
approach their jobs as chief executive officers.
As CEOs, principals would determine how to spend money
budgeted for their schools as they see fit and would answer directly
to local school boards and parents. The idea makes sense, bringing
financial decision-making to the school level.
How much is allotted to a school would be based on
the so-called "weighted student formula" that Ouchi earlier
this year described to enthusiastic response from lawmakers, educators
and administration officials. The concept, which the DOE had considered
several years ago, assigns each pupil a certain amount of money
based on his or her educational needs. Children who require special
education, bilingual services or who are from a low-income family
would qualify for more funds. A school's budget would be the total
of all of its students' allotments.
Ouchi, in a presentation to the Star-Bulletin's editorial
board, said he envisions the formula and school choice as key to
education reform in Hawaii. Because the funds are attached to students,
they may take their funds with them to another school if their learning
needs are not being met. The practice places the power for reform
in the hands of each child, Ouchi said.
It also may encourage schools to develop certain "specialties"
that will attract students who require or desire them. For example,
if a school has successful programs for students who need bilingual
education, parents would be inclined to enroll their bilingual children
there. The formula also would provide equity for children who choose
public charter schools instead of traditional education.
Although the funding formula was warmly embraced by
House Democrats, teachers, DOE officials and the Republican governor,
Lingle's reform proposals met a cool reception during the legislative
session. The forum and committee appear charted to build public
support for her plan while putting pressure on lawmakers as well
as DOE officials, who were not invited to the events announcing
the plan.
Lingle said she excluded them "by design"
because her goal "is to achieve something here that the stakeholders
may not agree with, not today and maybe not ever."
The governor's assessment may be correct, but she
is mistaken if she believes she does not need their support. Education
is a participatory venture. It involves all levels of the school
system from superintendent to janitor. Its "stakeholders"
include not only the DOE and the Legislature, but every business
person and employer in every industry in Hawaii and all members
of the public whether or not they have children in the public schools.
Ouchi says school systems work best from the bottom
up. As the governor's newest consultant, he should relay that message
to his boss.
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