Well, Texas's own empty-headed governor Rick Perry and his kneejerk rightwing friends have been forced to back down on the single dumbest aspect of his so-called 65-percent solution for public education.
Librarians will be included in a proposed definition of classroom spending for the new 65 percent rule, removing one of the biggest criticisms of Gov. Rick Perry's initiative. Education Commissioner Shirley Neeley said Thursday that the inclusion "recognizes that librarians provide an important direct instructional service to students."Last August, Perry ordered Neeley to create a new financial accountability system that included a requirement that 65 percent of a school district's budget be spent on classroom instruction. His executive order referred to the definition for classroom instruction that is used by the National Center for Education Statistics, the statistical arm of the U.S. Education Department.
Librarians and library costs are excluded under the NCES definition, while costs for football coaches and extracurricular activities are allowed. Houston Independent School District Superintendent Abelardo Saavedra was among many superintendents who criticized the definition as valuing football over libraries.
The proposed Texas rule counts teacher and teacher aide salaries, textbooks, computers and extracurricular activities as classroom spending. It excludes administration, maintenance and operating expenses, counselors, nurses, security and transportation.
Of course, remember it's all pointless as a way to improve education, and not intended as such. It's all about finding a way to claim that "classroom instruction" is getting more resources without a tax increase.
A study released in November found that the so-called "65 percent solution" is not likely to raise student achievement. Standard & Poor's analyzed data in Texas and eight other states considering a 65 percent classroom spending requirement. It found no significant positive correlation between the percent of funds that districts spend on instruction and the percentage of students who score proficient or higher on state reading and math tests.
Related:
• Standard & Poors - The Issues and Implications of the "65 Percent Solution" (PDF)
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