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Mona Shield Payne / Special to the Sun
Gubernatorial candidate Rory Reid greets UNLV Chancellor Dan Klaich, left, during a panel discussion on the importance of transforming Nevada’s education system Monday, March 22, at Walter Bracken Elementary School.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010 | 2:01 a.m.
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Sun Coverage
Sun Archives
- Rory Reid to file for governor today in Las Vegas (3-9-2010)
- Rory Reid reaching out to rural Nevadans (2-21-2010)
- Rory Reid not rushing in on state’s deficit (1-28-2010)
- Brian Sandoval, Rory Reid spar over budget solutions (1-27-2010)
- For donors, no clear choice for governor (1-24-2010)
Gubernatorial candidate Rory Reid unveiled an education plan Monday calling for extensive reform in a K-12 system he says is failing Nevada’s children.
The Economic Development through Great Education, or EDGE, plan would give more control over daily operations to school principals, provide performance incentives to aid recruiting and retention of top teachers, and grant parents more choice on where their children go to school.
At the same time, the plan passes key litmus tests for the state teachers union, which has endorsed Reid for governor and represents a key constituency for the Democratic candidate.
A prominent union position in the plan is that teacher performance be judged on multiple measures rather than a “snapshot” based on a high-stakes standardized test. Reid is also pushing for improved mentoring and professional development, echoing the union’s view.
Reid said he spent about a year developing his plan, meeting with educators, community leaders, parents and lawmakers. He also looked at local success stories, including Bracken Elementary and Green Valley High School.
Lynn Warne, president of the Nevada State Education Association, said she has had “many great conversations” with Reid on education issues. No other candidate for governor has sought her input, she said.
Reid’s plan borrows from initiatives that are showing promise locally and nationally. It also includes buzzwords — choice, accountability, autonomy and reform — that have become familiar refrains in Nevada, which currently languishes near the bottom of most lists when it comes to evaluating the quality of its schools and students.
Some recommendations are expansions of initiatives in place. The increased autonomy, improved staff development, pay incentives and stricter accountability are all tenets of the Clark County School District’s empowerment model, Superintendent Walt Rulffes said.
“In any case,” Rulffes said, “when education is a central plank in the platform, it’s good for Nevada.”
Among the highlights of Reid’s plan:
• Teachers would be required to go through longer probationary periods (typically one year in most Nevada districts, including Clark County) so that schools have more time to weed out underperforming teachers.
• Principals would have more flexibility in how they allocate their funding.
• Teachers and principals would receive more comprehensive performance evaluations.
• Parents would have opportunities to choose their children’s schools, rather than being bound by current zoning. (Transportation, however, would not be provided under the plan.)
• Teachers would receive incentives to work in at-risk schools, which often have a hard time hiring experienced personnel, and be rewarded for mentoring less experienced colleagues.
• The elected State Board of Education would become a mix of appointees and elected officials. Additionally, the state superintendent of public instruction would no longer answer to the state board but to the governor.
No cost estimates are included in the plan. Reid claims the proposals are “revenue neutral,” and some programs would eventually attract donations through local businesses partnering with campuses.
“We’ll attract not just private funders, but private employers seeking out the students graduating from our improved school system,” the plan states. “Our economy will grow — and with it our state’s funding base. The result: higher tax revenues for our schools without higher taxes.”
Reid, who is chairman of the Clark County Commission, said the plan would foster competition among campuses by converting them into so-called “Edge” schools — 20 percent statewide within a year, increasing to all public schools within five years. State funding would follow individual students as they choose the schools that best fit their academic needs.
Reid acknowledged that given the state’s dismal budget outlook, transportation would not be provided for “Edge schools,” at least at the outset. That would likely mean “choice” would be limited to families who could afford to provide their own transportation.
To compensate, Reid said his plan also includes elements intended to improve the quality of underperforming schools, by offering incentives to experienced teachers who agree to work at the campuses and mentor less-experienced peers. That would improve the overall quality of all schools, regardless of whether choice was an option, Reid said.
Another Reid proposal aimed at improving campuses is merit pay.
Reid’s formula follows the Clark County School District’s model — in place at several empowerment campuses and drafted with significant input from the local teachers union. It calls for bonuses to be shared by entire campuses rather than singling out individual teachers.
The proposals, Reid said, will also benefit the broader economy. New businesses want to know they’re coming to a state with educated workers for hire, as well as good schools for the children of their own employees, Reid said.
“We’re never going to get a strong economy without stronger schools,” Reid said.
Rory has the correct idea. This is somewhat patterned on other states with much higher rankings for schools such as Washington.
Good for him and I hope that this will be the norm after he is elected and Zero is gone, gone, gone.
Our educational system is a joke. We have one of the highest drop out rates in the world, we are not hiring teachers who DONT speak English, whats that tell you? Our entire school system is encumbered by Unions. It is a fustercluck of a system and Rory Reid has no idea how to fix it, besides blow more tax dollars on fruitless efforts. Although his efforts will be boasted by the sun as heroic, when in fact they will be tragic to the county/state.
I'm afraid that Rory Reid is saddled with the unpopularity of his father Harry Reid, and will not get elected to anything any time soon. he is however more credible than the Gibbons Idiot, as he is more at the grass roots level of the state of education with this year long study. The Reid name however will hurt him..
How long has Rory Reid been in local government and all of a sudden he now has a plan to fix things? Just look at the current state of the County or UMC. I've seen his track record so far. No thanks Rory.
Rory ponied up something, which after his recent state budget waffle, is a refreshing change (give credit where it is deserved)
I read it quickly last night and there maybe a couple of things to discuss in it.
I can turn the schools around much easier than that. This more of that they have already. We don't need more rules. I love that the democrats and the unions seem to think that when you have a hole, dig it deeper is the answer.
WE have good students and good teachers, what we have is a crummy system that does not educate our children. Teaching the children is the only consideration. None of the "fluffy" feelgood empowerment garbage is working and it needs to go.
Reid is going to do at the state level what he has done on the county level.
So.....hold on.....soon we will see golden union government contracts on a state level....the same as those on average over $150k in wages and benefits county firefighters.
We will also see boondoggle projects like the RJC and the scam projects like the land swaps at the airports.
WOW! Another acronym named plan to solve the problems this dolt could not solve in all the time he has been on the public dole. Great Idea RORY. Now, supplement it with a Five Point, or Three Point, or Ten Point Plan and call it Tools for Teachers. The "T" alliterative will work well with your lisp.
Lots of cliches for the lumpen proletariat to swallow. Paens to teachers unions to sate their appetite.
Same old, same old. Throw all incumbents out.
If you want parents and students to have real choice approve a voucher system. Let any student attend any school. Traditional, charter, or private and let the funds follow the student. Then real competition and innovation will cause all three to excel. The current system is designed ONLY to serve the teachers unions.
I'm impressed with Jr.'s plan.
Say what you want, the guy is running a smart campaign.
I do not know if he'd make a good Governor.
Who really knows in advance if the shoe will fit.
At the least he's showing professionalism in running his campaign.
Would it benefit Nevada to have a Governor who is the Son of the Senate Majority Leader?
As abhorrent as that may seem to many Nevadans,
it's interesting to ponder.
Without educational reform the misery index continues ranking 50 out of 50.What option does that leave the children and young adults as they enter the work force? A low earning soul crushing job that leaves little room for hope or advancement academically or professionally. Difficult to dream of books and education when your primary concern is something as basic as primary as rent and food.Education is the only means of escape, without it the self perpetuating cycle of grinding poverty existence -vs- life with options to succeed. The same holds true for adults who wish to change their circumstances via increased educational opportunities opening the door of enrichment and reward, respect earned through education and their ability not the label of their lowly title. Reading the attached proposal plan outline the system rewards effort granting greater autonomy based on results and active participation by educators and parents. Currently there is little in place to motivate students or educators.
Rory Reid is Harry "Backdoor" Reids son. The son of the great Socialist. Would you really believe that he wouldn't drive us further in the wrong direction like his father. This guy is probably one of the worst Democrat/Progressives running for office.
"We're never going to get a strong economy without stronger schools," Reid said.
Political nonsense -- strong economies are derived from utilizing process efficiencies while the current public education process is inefficient and obsolete.
The goal and focus should be one of dismantling the current process all together by utilizing technologies to disseminate information from source to subject in the most efficient manner. No one should be REQUIRED to learn another language or attend a classroom to learn nowadays, while those owning property shouldn't be forced to fund such inefficient obsolete processes.
The other day I was talking with a young fellow about business and he commented that today a business owner doesn't want to ever own property (if possible) because of the tremendous overhead costs associated with property ownership -- in a competitive market-place where only the strong survive, property ownership offers no competitive edge when it can be avoided by utilizing technologies.
The processes which best utilize technology possess a competitive edge to those that don't whether they're service, and/or product oriented.
Why develop networks which can virtually access everyone with the best information if they're not used?
Today, most educational services should be readily available and accessed at the home of the public -- a public of varying ages, languages and abilities with social emphasis upon the public responsibilities of SELF-LEARNING.
We don't need "stronger schools" -- we need to embrace the technologies which make our homes our learning environments by utilizing and developing efficient processes which result in dismantling an obsolete "school system" unjustly funded by property-ownership theft.
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Rory has sat back for years and help create the problems we have now. We need new fresh blood in our system not Rory!!! All of a sudden for an election he decides to try and look good, you are not fooling us Rory. Nevada and America is tired of politics being done your way. We want a politician who will listen to our needs............OH sorry I forgot Harry is your Dad!!!
The "plan" has many, many questionable elements.
1. Measuring "Performance", teachers are not machines, nor are they trained animals. The word performance is corporate-speak.
2. He is promoting a collusion between academia and market leaders. The best education is one that teaches students how to be creative thinkers. Our education system does the opposite of that. Reid is suggesting the system become a collusion with big business. Basically a corporate take over of education.
3. He rightly points out that the system is failing. We all know this.
4. He panders to the teacher unions that have enabled the failing system.
5. How does any of that describe a recipe for success? It doesn't.
6. Of course he is getting the endorsement of teachers, they want to keep their jobs. This implies NOTHING will change.
I challenge voters to think for themselves.
I believe in the power of voters to think for themselves. Despite the Sun's collusion with the Democratic Party.
Despite the RJ's collusion with the republican Party.
"Reid claims the proposals are "revenue neutral," and some programs would eventually attract donations through local businesses partnering with campuses."
Where have we heard that line of BS recently??
First reaction...I'm really disappointed, but not surprised. He's clearly pandering to the wishes of the teachers' unions, which are obviously a part of the problem. List of buzzwords in the summary on his website, but substance was less than impressive. I'm not going to write it off completely until I see more details.
Bonuses simply for moving to an "underserved" school? Not based on performance improvements (not raw scores)? He allows the teachers to design the metrics on which they and the students are evaluated? I just think our state has done so poorly in the past, that we need to be judged based on national standards, not tests that we design internally.
Interested in hearing the opinions of other parents, teachers, and anyone involved in the field. Or anyone that knows more about the plan.
The plan is BS.
-parent, teacher, politician
David, you lost a little credibility with the last item on your list of qualifications. :-)
But seriously, Reid's plan just feels very political. It doesn't feel like he really wants to work towards a solution.
To be clear, I'm very much an independent voter, so my take has absolutely nothing to do with the party that he represents.
I believe that Rory is the only candidate with a correct way of looking at our education system. We already have a governor who wants it to be impossible for our children to make a good life for themselves by not providing them with the tools and skills they need to succeed in the business world. Rory is offereing away not only to give our children the necessities of life but he is also trying to fix our economy and make it so we get new business in nevada which in turn brings more revenue to the state. i now i do not want my children to grow up and live in a state where in 20 years it has the same two industries and everyone has to rely on those to survive.
please someone show me a better plan.
Robert, I think I posted this on another story, but look at the plan that Florida implemented. If you're a democrat, please ignore the fact that it was endorsed by Jeb Bush. All I care about are the results. Look at http://www.foundationforfloridasfuture.o.... There's a detailed presentation included in the emails that I've sent to every gubernatorial candidate, Rulffes, Rheault, and other representatives, and I have yet to receive a response from anyone.
i read the "florida formula" that sounds just what rory wants to do. could you explain some of the main differences please
The entire plan is based on a grading system for schools, and teachers/schools that show improvement get monetary rewards. The unions still prevent them from making it too easy to fire teachers that are clearly not cut out for it, but I think the positive reinforcement is more important than the punishment, anyway.
Much of the grading is based on the results of the FCAT, which is not designed solely by teachers. There is some involvement by the citizens of the community. They use much of the same methodology used in SAT's (norm-referenced tests), so that the test is more similar to those used at a national level. This state-wide grading allows for schools to compete with each other, but the tests are really driven by nation-wide standards.
I'm certainly no expert, and I'm still going through some of the criticisms of the plan. I think my primary concern with Reid's plan is that it feels like the unions had too much influence. There have to be independent groups that specialize in education and statistics, that aren't tied to the teachers union. I would just prefer that an outside group design the performance metrics.
why not just say you would prefer that and make that the suggestion. reid wants to use a more stringent test i would imagine like the FCAT. i may be wrong but it does seem like your ideas and the one proposed in the EDGE plan a very similar.
Sorry, forgot to mention that I think Florida had the advantage of gathering detailed data, and issuing state-wide tests, over many years. That makes it easier to get moving. If NV had to start with an empty database, it will obviously take time to tweak the performance metrics and understand the changes that make a significant impact on results. The sooner we start, the better. Hopefully we're already collecting a significant amount of data.
Robert, maybe I should. I'm just a little disappointed that I don't even receive a response when I send this info over (including Gibbons, the "education governor"). I mean, not one person has even acknowledged that they received it, other than the read receipts I send with my emails. All I'm looking for is for people that know this stuff better than I do to send me their thoughts/opinions on the plan, and whether or not it would work in NV.
It's nice that Reid has put some effort into the issue, even if it's just for political reasons. It's just that I used to live in FL, and I know that they were ranked basically the same as NV, and their rankings improved dramatically after implementing this plan. Why would Reid feel the need to reinvent the wheel instead of taking something that has clearly worked in the past? Is it a branding thing? Is Nevada that different from FL? Does he not want to be associated with anything considered to be "Republican"? I tell you, I'd be more inclined to vote for him if he showed some humility and reached out to different groups/parties for help.
Anyway, thanks for responding, it sounds like you're more familiar with the Reid plan than I am. I just know what I read on his website, which didn't include a ton of detail.
David Curtis on Education in Nevada
1. We cannot afford the system we have now. Financially we can not afford it, and nationally we are viewed as a failing system.
2. Next year we will have an even larger State budget deficit.
3. Given that our students are currently being under served it would be in their interest
if the public school student population was decreased.
4. We could do this, reduce the public school population by several ways:
A. Our population growth rate, in general, has flattened. If the State economy does not improve we may actually begin to see a decrease in population.
B. We could give aptitude evaluations to students after fifth grade. The students who have mechanical aptitudes should be directed towards private/public vocational training.
C. Kindergarten class sizes must be reduced. The student teacher ratio is not appropriate.
D. The State needs to set up a State Bank that can finance private school tuition.
E. Home schooling needs to become a viable option. There are many people out of work that can become neighborhood assistant teachers for neighborhood co-operative home schooling programs. A portion of the Public school budget needs to augment, home school options.
5. We must re-work the curriculum to help students become more creative thinkers. This will only happen if we abandon standardized testing. We must teach students brainstorming techniques. We need to nurture creative, inventive abilities.
This will involve music, creative writing, freehand sketching and computer researching techniques.
6. Low cost, evening classes in both English and Spanish need to be happening in all the Public School campuses.
7. We must invent new, local-based business that are not dependent on tourism. These new businesses will be a new revenue stream to fund education and other vital government activities.
well thank you for responding to me and thanks for the info. maybe certain people do not write back because they have the same solution as you. And for the most part it seems as if you are on the same page and the FL plan is what reid wants to do here. and it is a better alternative then sandoval who wants to cut 4% more from education and way better then the 330 million already cut under gibbons
lets not end the debate but lets keep the debates coming because the more we talk the more our opinion is heard. I just would hate to see our governor come from the republican side. all they seem to want is to cut everything
Why are people still having kids? is there a shortage of people?
There is an extreme shortage of smart and good-looking children. Have you been to the DMV lately?
Don not trust Rory Reid! Do Not Vote for Rory Reid, we have had our fill of the lying Reids!
Go find some cheese mousey no neck. Your not fit to be a dog catcher let alone a governor. Thanks to your firefighter there is 150 million out there being paid to those greedy firefighters while CCSD slaves are facing layoffs. You have all the wrong answers Rory. Stick to something you know something about?, being county commissioner. Nevadans cant afford anymore lousy leadership at the executive level.
Whoa! This David Curtis character; He was a much more attractive candidate until he opened his mouth!
Rory Reid is serious on Education. This is no joke! Educational progress needs the leadership of a Governor engaged in the needs of lower and higher education. His own wife is an educator. No other candidate running for Governor (other than Rory Reid) is more concerned about educating our youth. Vote for Rory Reid to stop the dumbing down of Nevada's kids.
You are asking philosophically, "what it means to think." I never suggested removing proficiency exams. Can you provide an example where Rory Reid has endorsed 'fad' teaching into classroom, except to mitigate cutbacks in education? Please enlighten us on how his plan is 'a bunch of crap'?
Wizard of OZ: your posts are always so negative and demeaning when someone of moral, religious character (Rory Reid) is trying to make a difference for our state. Can't you construct a serious argument or defense of your position without resorting to such remarks.
Robert, I apologize as this response is about a day late (I just got back to this story). Maybe I didn't get a response because they thought they were proposing the exact plan that I was referencing, but based on what I've seen/read, I don't think they're the same at all. I didn't see the details on the most important component (pay for performance). I see that teachers can get a bonus for simply moving to a new school, but that's not "performance" as far as I'm concerned. Performance is seeing a year over year improvement in test scores, or some other clear metric. Ideally, he'd work with the teachers union (since it's necessary) to find a way to easily fire underperforming teachers, and not just move them to another job.
If he has those components and I missed them, then please point them out to me. I'd be a supporter of the plan if they were included. Of course, we'd have to constantly make minor modifications to the plan, since practice will almost always reveal issues not identified in theory.
I say that he appears to be pandering to the wishes of the unions because the hurdle to getting more money isn't that high (moving to underserved school), and there doesn't appear to be a significant penalty for teachers that are clearly not cut out for the job. Again, please point those out to me if I missed them. I'm looking forward to more details.
ThinkEducationNV, both myself and my partner ARE educators.
My partner teaches art at a private school.
I've taught at CCSN, and the Art Institute. I have also guest taught at UNLV, Parsons School NYC and the Meadows School.
If you truly believe in Think(ing) and Education...please bother to do at least minimal research into the candidates backgrounds.
My resume is posted on my business website
www.apparatusLV.com
or go to Facebook Group: Curtis4governor
or www.curtis4governor.com
I am a native Nevadan. I have worked in architecture for 20 years.
Here in California, they have thrown Billions and Billions at the schools. Teachers are paid very handsomely. The state lottery was created to give more money to schools. Class sizes were reduced by a new state law (more union teachers). Laws were created to give the schools half of the state budget.
Know what we have? A real mess that blows money faster than they can bring it in, and the kids eductations are WORSE than ever.
Money isn't the answer. Common sense is. Get rid of all of the money spending programs and high priced administrative positions. Pay teachers fairly but make them pay for their health insurance, etc. )like the rest of us).
MORE MONEY ISN'T THE ANSWER!
So many people are in prison in part because of mandatory sentencing and the drug war.
As long as our Government uses drug money to fund covert ops, there are going to be a lot of people in prison.
We do have many good students and teachers out there in Nevada. The major problem is with parenting, or the lack there of...and illegals...
Let's say you have a classroom with 25 students. Let's say 20 out of the 25 get between 75-100 percent on a high stake's test...The other 5 score in the lower 20 percent. Those 5 low scores can kill a class average. Generally those lower achieving students, have a very bad home life, and the parents are inactive in their life. This is typical in this county. It's so sad to see 20 students do average to awesome on their tests only to have those lower achieving 5 students destroy a class average and make the state look like we have a bunch of dumb kids in Nevada.
Maybe two out of the 5 do not speak English. Illegals that come to Nevada are required to take the CRT tests that are written in English, and they can't even speak English! What do you think their score is going to be? Luck of chance, they might get a few correct and score maybe 10 percent. Maybe another two come from moms that were smoking crack during their pregnancies. Don't ecpect to get Einsteins with those two. And the other one comes from a lazy unresponsive parent.
Why are we educating illegals anyway? That is another problem, schools enrolling illegals knowing they are illegal...I guess the state gets more money for every student they get illegal or not...
Bottom line, many parents need to realize that there is more to raising a child than just giving birth to it.
You have to get a driver's liscense in order to drive, but any fool can have a child without a liscense....
And the school district needs to be out there pointing a finger at the parents too. Notice that never happens. They don't want to upset the tax payers I guess....Everyone is always trying to blame the teacher....There are bad teachers out there too...But it takes a good teacher, a student willing to learn, and parents that follow through on their child's progess in order to have success. When you just blame the teacher, you will continue to get the poor scores that you see in the paper.
Wake up school district and hold the students and parents accountable too along with your teachers.....and cut out the fat in the administration too! Too many administrators that are always going to "meetings" and aren't in their own building to know what is really going on.
You need WILLING participants for any of this to work!
peace out
I dont even believe what these politicians say any more. Its just designed to lull US into paying for their grandiose plans.
Rory Reid is just another Reid, like his father. All they want is to be elected and re-elected to powerful positions where they can wield power.
The apple doesnt fall far from the tree. I am voting NO to both of them.
David Curtis wrote this:
"I challenge voters to think for themselves.
I believe in the power of voters to think for themselves."
Thank you, David, I'm still ROFL
Stan, I'm new to politics. I still actually say what I mean.
Love the way all the "Give me a handout, help me I want what I don't work for, want what they have without effort to achieve it.... etc. etc" folks follow the family gReid.
When a person doesn't have a neck big enough to support his own head, you think he has shoulders broad enough to help the State and the fix his DADDY got us into... What was that Forrest Gump line ...."something is as something does"...??
Remember the only ones that will feel happy are the perpetual "Give me - I wanna feel weak and useless crowd..." NOT what a strong Nation nor State needs.
Robert 4 Rory your words resonate compassion and understanding, one can almost hear the timbre and cadence of your voice.Thank you for elevating the level of conversation to meaningful debate.
This plan is not unlike plans made by many politicians running for public office. The ideas regarding education have been discussed ad infinitum by those seeking to reform education. It amounts to "lip service." I have been in this state long enough to understand how people feel about education and educators. I can tell you now that this plan -- like Jan Jones' plan when she ran for the governor's job -- will end up on some trash pile never to see the light of day.