How to Help US High Schools? Try $100 Million

Is $100 million enough to fix our crumbling urban high schools?

Not even close, but it's a great start, and thanks to the Ford Foundation it's a reality, according to a foundation press release. The seven-year, seven-city initiative will focus on four elements of these school systems that have direct impact on vulnerable students: financing for schools, quality of teaching, longer and more effective learning time and stronger accountability.

"Not only are these four areas essential, we must address them in ways that cut through the atmosphere of recrimination and dysfunction that often characterizes urban school reform efforts," said Dr. Jeannie Oakes, director of the Educational Opportunity and Scholarship unit at Ford Foundation.

The foundation's goal is to help create the conditions needed to provide all US students with quality education by approaching the issue in new ways.

"With this initiative we want to shake up the conversations surrounding school reform and help spur some truly imaginative thinking and partnerships," said Ford Foundation President Luis Ubinas.

Some early grants reflect this approach:

The American Institutes for Research in Behavioral Sciences will develop finance models to ensure fair funding distribution to school districts. The Urban Residency United will establish standards for teacher training.Public Interest Projects will help build grassroots support for better teacher quality, fair school finance and improved accountability.

How much good will $100 million do? After the work has been done, I suggest we ask the students.

 

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