Education Investment Rather Than Gimmicks

From an opinion piece by Bruce Fuller in the NYTimes:

. . . . More broadly, the Obama administration can then focus on strategic and long-term investments in schools, colleges and research centers. The political demise of the No Child Left Behind Act — its odds of survival continue to sink — offers the opportunity to rethink the federal role in education. Mr. Obama has wisely emphasized areas of investment that yield strong payoffs, like improving access to quality preschools for poor families.

Equally urgent, Washington should aid states in attracting smart and diverse young graduates to go into teaching. To retain them, educational institutions must become professional and supportive workplaces, not simply test-prep centers. This won’t be accomplished through attractive gimmicks, like more money for charters schools which, on balance, have yet to outperform regular public schools.

What’s key is for Mr.Obama’s transition team to stay honest to their boss’s resilient ability to screen out the static and stay focused on long-term remedies. Fresh infusions of bricks and mortar can spur job creation and inventive schools. Then, Washington can turn to human infrastructure, creating incentives and support inside schools that will enrich America’s teaching force.