Andrew

Sorensen

Is Idaho Trying Hard Enough in School?

Heidi Moon stood up from her desk to let in her first grade class that has lined up
outside the back door of the classroom. The bell had rung just a couple minutes
before signaling the end of recess. The 22 students, still somewhat restless, walked
into the classroom in two single file lines.

Mrs. Moon leads them in walking backwards with a smile, her pointer finger tapping
her lips as if to say time to be quite.

Soon the class is sitting on the ground cross-legged in a semi-circle facing their
teacher, who continues to look at them without saying a word.

As soon as they have all quieted down, Mrs. Moon begins to read.

Sharri Ybarra, the new Idaho superintendent of schools has recently announced the
changes she wants to make in the way that the state of Idaho looks of education.
Only on the job for a few months, Ybarra has announced some of her goals while
meeting with state lawmakers.

One goal that had many people asking questions was the need to reduce the
classroom size in kindergarten through 3rd grade. According to the National
Education Association the average classroom size in elementary school in Idaho is
21.5. Ybarra says that she would like to get that number down between 15-18.

Having 30 children in a first-grade classroom results in crowd control and a
decrease in overall achievement, which affects learning for the next 11 years,"
Ybarra said.

According to the National Education Association, Idaho nationally ranks 38 in the
number of students attending schools, and 41 in instructors employed, making
Idaho 7 in instructors to students ratio at 19.1 for grades k-12.

Although this may require a large increase in new teacher hires, Ybarra says that
this will only cost an estimated $3 million to $5 million to fund the smaller
classroom sizes resulting in more classrooms needed.
This idea is not met without its opposition. Phil Kelly, chairman of the Department
of Curriculum says, Highly qualified teachers can have a greater impact on
students' learning than class size, I would rather have a quality teacher in a large
class than an average teacher in a small class

According to an 2012 Arizona State study, students who are assigned to smaller
classes in grades K-3rd do better in every way that can be measured: they score
higher on tests, receive better grades, and exhibit improved attendance.

Also evidence from a Princeton study conducted by Alan Krueger, Those students
whose performance improves the most are those who need the most help, children
from poor and minority backgrounds, who experience twice the gains as the average
student. Alan Krueger of Princeton estimates that reducing class size in the early
grades shrinks the achievement gap by about 38%.

Last year only 42% of those that children that were economically disadvantaged
tested out of proficient or higher standard. 61% of Hispanics in particular tested at a
basic or below basic standard. Other minorities such as African American or Native
American were not far behind with more than half testing at a basic or below basic
level. These standardized testing results stay fairly consistent from kindergarten
through Eighth grade.

Spending

With the announcement by Ybarra to lower the classroom size, she also asked for
$84 million more for education spending. Thats a 6.4 increase in the state schools
budget. This comes at the same time that Gov. Butch Otter is trying to fulfill a
campaign promise by working on proposing a $101 million increase.

Currently, Idaho is ranked 50 in state and local spending for k-12 schools according
to the National Education Association. Between 2009 and 2011 Idaho cut its
spending on education by almost a quarter of a billion dollars. Since then, Idaho had
yet to get funding back up to pre-2009 levels.

When you look at the overall spending for the state on education it can be
misleading to see the numbers and how they very from state to state. The number of
school districts in the amount of children attending school varies dramatically from
state to state.

The best way to see the amount each state is putting into education, is to look at the
amount spent per student. Idaho is spending $6,659 per year per student. Thats 50
in the country. Compered to the top state in the country, New York at $19,552, Idaho
is more than three times behind the leader and nearly half of the national average at
$11,345.

One of the largest expenses to a school district every year is the salary for the
instructors and staff. Currently Idaho is 34 in the country in salary teacher salary,
and 24% below the national average.

That being said the solution might be soon to come. At the beginning of the year the
Idaho State Board of Education has made a proposal to the 2015 Legislature to
implement a career ladder that will provide nearly $200 million of additional
funding for teacher salaries over the next five years.
If approved it will provide a minimum salary of $40,000 for new teachers. Funding
for veteran teachers would range from $51,000 to $58,000. Current salarys for I
Idahos teachers top out at $47,000. Overall, funding for teachers will increase
approximately $8,000 to $13,000 per teacher depending on where they fall on the
ladder.
Another aspect to this proposal is that under the plan, teachers will also be
compensated for attaining advanced degrees and could earn leadership bonuses
based on assignments and needs within their local district. Many will say this will
improve the teaching standard and promote teachers to obtain a higher teaching
level degree

When surveyed, people tend to put education near the top of the list in areas of most
importance in politics on a national and state level. The balance between the
amount of money coming in and how to spend it has always been a debate between
legislatures and the Department of Education. So the question should be asked, are
the best choices being made for the future of Idaho?

When asked about the proposed changes Mrs. Moon said, I definitely think it has an
impact on student learning to have 20 to 24 is just about perfect. Having 25 to 27 is
fine if you're an experienced teacher and have the patience after 27 or 28 kids
someone's getting left out. Needs are not being met individualized attention is not
being received. That being said I think 15 sounds awfully low. There such thing as
having too few students as well, group work doesn't gel and there are other low
number issues.

Mrs. Moon continued to read the story as the class listened close. Two boys in the
back began to snicker; Mrs. Moon paused for a second to shot them a glance. That
was all it took, they quieted down, and she picked up where she had left off.