Commonwealth of Kentucky – 42nd District Legislative Update
Report to 42nd District on the NCSL Summit -Philadelphia
From the sterile and futuristic facilities of GSK, it was back to the main convention center for the Task Force on Drop-Out Prevention meeting. Task force members were briefed by Robert Balfanz on his February 2009 publication, Grad Nation: A Guidebook to Help Communities Tackle the Drop Out Crisis. It is a sobering account of the extent of the crisis and cost to society, that also attempts to convey potential solutions and demonstrate that communities need to take action to solve this dilemma.
One concept was put forth that will be part of future discussions here in Kentucky, where the drop out problem is particularly acute! To help schools and communities ensure the absentee/attendance issue is addressed, Balfanz claims school funding should be based on Average Daily Attendance (ADA) rather than Full Time Equivalence (FTE). Interesting. He also asserted the usual stats we hear about the percentage of persons who do/do not complete the 10th grade as going/not going on to complete college; that we can identify dropouts as early as the 6th grade [the key indicators being attendance, behavior and course performance]. He stressed it is not enough to ID potential dropouts, but there must be comprehensive and systematic response to the first sign of a student getting off track, and that interventions must be targeted and evaluated for effectiveness. We also learned of a national volunteer program coming from Washington with federal monetary support behind it. Work-study funds are to be provided to students for community service. This program is designed to put volunteers in public schools. No doubt this will be good news to our students at U of L and across the Commonwealth!
It was heartening to learn that North Carolina, along with Mississippi and Colorado, were highlighted as states that are demonstrating best practices in dropout prevention. Given that our new Kentucky Education Czar is from North Carolina, and was recognized as being an Education Guru of the Year inNorth Carolina, I certainly expect there to be focused attention on the dropout problem in Kentucky. If the number of JCPS dropouts is any indication, this attention comes not a minute too soon.
…And then the NCLS Legislative Summit started.
Bill Gates, the venerable force behind the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, addressed the opening session and sat with the NCSL president for a series of Q’s & A’s. I was surprised to learn of Gates’ unbridled support for charter schools. I guess I thought he was a public school sort of guy. Turns out, he is a staunch advocate of quality measurement systems for teachers and says there are serious federal stimulus dollars available to states to fund the creation of new measurement systems. If enough states establish these systems over the next three to four years, the success achieved will spread these systems across the country and push states to provide top-quality teachers to their schools. The Gates Foundation is putting much of its funding in the next four years into these teacher-effectiveness activities; using measuring systems to drive instruction. Online coursework, web cameras in the classroom and video classes are seen by Gates as taking off over the next three to four years.
Chicago, NYC, and Washington, DC, were cited by Gates as examples of school systems that made decisions that may have been painful in the short run, but have been beneficial in the long run. They have made tough decisions to shut down schools, continue mayoral control of schools, change work practices and demand more. The concept of having one individual who is held accountable for improving the schools is preferred by Gates over a system controlled by a school board. He also had much to say about the loss of US progress in education when compared to international school systems. These international systems tend to have uniform standards. They know individual teacher test scores and have reward systems based on this. They put more money into best practice, and they have longer school days. A very insightful, challenging address indeed!
And then it became a blur: Human Services and Welfare Committee meetings daily; a session titled“What Legislators Need to Know About Redistricting” [likely to impact Jefferson County with the possibility of another Democrat House seat, and especially on our 42nd District, which is already stretched like one of those Philly pretzels I saw being made in the market!]; a voter registration and early voting forum where we learned these are growing in numbers with more jurisdictions experimenting with them, a focus group with young and newly elected officials I was asked to participate in which solicited feedback on constituency contact, communication, advocacy of policy issues, partnership building with community organizations, etc from some of us “older guys” LOL!! Participation in a workshop on a program I had firsthand knowledge of, the Legislators in the Lab program (LOL). LOL is designed to help legislators be prepared to encourage young people to go into the medical field. I was sent to Johns Hopkins University with Black, NA, and female legislators from around the country, where we saw first-hand some of the groundbreaking surgeries, technologies, and medical advancements which the university is engaged.
I also met with two White House staffers who, among other things, were monitoring the NCSL vote on the proposed health care policy. It was not without note this NCSL vote occurred just as Congress was also discussing President Barack Obama’s health insurance plan. Whether the NCSL health care policy was passed or did not pass, either way, it would have potential consequences on the Hill inWashington. Thus, these individuals from the Office of Intergovernmental Relations were present at the Summit. More on this later. I took the opportunity to introduce these staffers to members of ourKentucky delegation, including Speaker Stumbo, Senate members of both Dem and Repub caucuses and a number of House members. They delivered a definite message: members want to see the President in Kentucky. We learned the First Lady has, in fact, visited Ft. Campbell – without fanfare – and I have requested Ft. Knox be put on any future visit, official or unofficial.
The business meeting was naturally the main reason for being at the summit. Policy positions are voted on by member states, and these reflect the position of the national organization as we lobby Washington and Congress on any number of policy issues. I had previously sat in on the Labor Committee, chaired by Rep. Brent Yonts. On the floor of this business meeting, as he had in committee, Rep. Yonts did a wonderful job securing passage of a number of important labor policy positions. He did Kentucky proud. Not so some of my Repub brethren in the House and Senate.
Each state was asked to identify one person to cast the state’s vote on these policy proposals as they came up. On the Health Care proposal, our members were polled, and the vote was taken to support the measure. Rep. Dr. David Watkins was selected to cast Kentucky’s vote. In a purely political bid to embarrass the Obama Administration, they succeeded only in embarrassing Kentucky and themselves. When the chairwoman called for Kentucky to vote, Rep. Watkins’s agreed upon “YES” vote was drowned out by the several Republicans who yelled, “NO” together. When Dr. Watkins, again, attempted to register our “YES” vote, he was again drowned out by this group. At that time, the chairwoman chided our Kentucky delegation to identify only one person to cast our state’s vote – which we had already done, of course—and by this time, Dr. Watkins made it to the microphone. He identified himself as being the one authorized to cast our state’s vote and our “YES” vote was finally recorded.
To iterate, from my perspective it was an embarrassing, purely political attempt to embarrass the Obama Administration, and it left a bad taste in my mouth. The entire delegation agreed on the one person to cast our vote; we had polled our members on how to vote and the majority decision was to support the health care measure. Despite this, people choose this time to play a political game – fish out of water. The measure passed overwhelmingly 38 – 14, with 2 abstentions. NOTE: US controlled territories can vote which accounts for the more than 50 votes tallied.
One highlight I have to tell you about was KENTUCKY NIGHT! This was the time to showcase Kentuckyand build up enthusiasm for the 2010 NCSL Summit in Louisville. There were race horses brought into the convention center; trumpeters to sound the call to the post; Kentucky food and bourbon galore; and my personal favorite – Governor Beshear, Speaker Stumbo and President Williams on-stage in front of thousands of people, holding hands and singing “My Old Kentucky Home” in three part harmony!! Can you picture that??? Well, maybe not so much the singing, but they did a great job together inviting all to Kentucky and painting a picture of great Kentucky hospitality – in front of a live country music band, just a-pickin’ and a-grinnin’. It was a sight to behold, I tell ya!
As always, I solicit your thoughts and opinions. Call me directly at 502.564.8100, or write me at Rm. 329C, Capitol Annex, 702 Capitol Avenue, Frankfort, KY 40601. To reach any particular legislator, contact our toll-free number at 800.372.7181. For the deaf or hard-of-hearing, that number is800.896.0305. Please pray for the safety and success of President Obama and his family.
Reginald