Monday, July 13, 2015

Are the Rules & Regulations the Problem?

Image courtesy of- https://flic.kr/p/6Vii1P 
According to the Rhode Island Department of Education's Office of Transformation and Charter School's website--
Rhode Island's 16 charter schools are public schools authorized by the State of Rhode Island to operate independently from many state and local district rules and regulations. Each charter school is able to establish educational strategies that meet the specific student achievement goals and objectives outlined in individual schools' charters.
"to operate independently from many state and local district rules and regulations."

Many people go out of their way to tout the power of these schools, who are freed from certain burdens, to "innovate" or promote them as models traditional public schools can and must learn from. 

Sorry, not buying it.

The answer to improving public education does not rest in allowing a certain "type" of school. However, the answer can be found in the rules and regulations, but is it is certainly NOT the rules and regulations. 

The answer is the absence of the rules and regulations
The answer is freedom and autonomy.

Giving each and every public school the autonomy to operate independently from rules and regulations allows all schools to truly personalize the educational experiences for all in their school community, and in doing so allows each school to individually tailor how they meet their specific student achievement goals and empowers schools to respond immediately when they don't.

Imagine the possibilities...



  • Want graduation tied to standardized tests? Yes? Then go ahead. No? Then don't. {Then support with data re: needs and outcomes}
  • Believe your students need study halls during the school day? Yes? Then go ahead. No? Then don't. {Then support with data re: needs and outcomes}
  • Believe that learning occurring outside of the classroom is more valuable than that which occurs in it, and want to give credit for outside experiences? Yes? Then go ahead. No? Then don't. {Then support with data re: needs and outcomes}
  • Want to give course credit to a class taught by an algorithm? Yes? Then go ahead. No? Then don't. {Then support with data re: needs and outcomes}
  • Want to have a Senior Project, Comprehensive Course Assessments or Portfolio as graduation requirements? Yes? Then go ahead. No? Then don't. {Then support with data re: needs and outcomes}
  • Love "data" so much that you want students tested every moment of every day? Yes? Then go ahead. No? Then don't. {Then support with data re: needs and outcomes}
  • Want all your class offerings, instructional and assessment practices to be tied to poetry/woodworking/dance/STEM/etc? Yes? Then go ahead. No? Then don't. {Then support with data re: needs and outcomes}
  • Think that students need 4 years of Art and only 1 of Math?Yes? Then go ahead. No? Then don't. {Then support with data re: needs and outcomes}

Image courtesy of https://flic.kr/p/8zWagu
By having rules and regulations that state that we may be able to improve student outcomes by having a select few who do not have to adhere to the rules and regulations is educational hypocrisy. 

It is time to admit that achieving student outcomes aligned to the demands and skill sets required in the 21st Century will not come from standardization and compliance with rules and regulations that seek to standardize all practices statewide (except of course those who have been granted permission NOT too). 

It is time to admit that in order to "innovate" or be "transformational" in any field, individuals and groups must be free to challenge existing frameworks and guidelines, not be inundated with rules and regulations that force them to live within artificial boundaries that confine them to the practices they seek to change and improve.


Image courtesy of https://www.flickr.com/photos/artjonak/6250513028/

All schools can and should be unique, just like the students and communities they serve. It is time that we empower all schools with the autonomy to chart their unique course so that we can truly personalize the educations our students receive. It is time that we promote all schools as places where we have the freedom to find the next "best practice". It is time we have all schools become safe havens for risk-taking, innovation and the sharing out of those practices to all who are interested.

Agree? Yes? Then go ahead. No? Then... Oh wait, we all don't have that choice...yet.