CER News Alerts E-Mail
CER CER
PublicationsNews Alert
Three New Action Papers Unveiled by CER:
A Nationwide Guide to Private Scholarships;
Student Achievement Data;
and, Facts on School Spending Addressed
July 15, 1998, Washington, DC -- Did you know that there are 57 national and state-level private scholarship programs that assist more than 17,000 children nationwide?
Did you know that 78% of Americans feel that our children are not receiving the education that they need? Did you know the U.S. has higher per capita public spending on elementary/secondary education than 14 of 21 countries yet U.S. performance resembles, on average, economically less affluent countries?
Did you know that regardless of where they come from -- poor inner city districts or upper middle-class suburbs -- our publicly schooled kids are falling behind? Many urban school districts spend substantially more than the $6,660 national average of per pupil expenditures. For example, Washington DC spends $7,327 per student but the drop out rate exceeds 40%; and 72% of the city’s 4th graders tested below "basic proficiency" in national math and reading tests.
These issues are addressed in three new Action Papers developed by The Center for Education Reform (CER). The papers: Private Scholarships: A Matter of Priority; The American Education Diet: Can U.S. Students Survive on Junk Food?; and Truth in Spending: The Cost of Not Educating Our Children are currently available from CER either from our website "edreform.com" or by calling (202) 822-9000.
Private Scholarships: A Matter of Priority gives a brief overview of the development of these programs. The first of these programs was implemented in 1991 and helped more than 750 children. The paper includes specific and anecdotal evidence of the success of these programs and a state by state breakdown of where these programs are and how to reach them.
American Diet: Can U.S. Students Survive on Junk Food? examines recent and alarming trends in school standards, from local measurement to international standings. Includes both general and a subject-by-subject look at student achievement.
Truth in Spending: The Cost of Not Educating Our Kids examines the relationship between school spending and student achievement. It also highlights the data and research on school spending nationally and in selected areas.
###
The Center for Education Reform is a national, independent, non-profit advocacy organization founded in 1993 to provide support to individuals and groups who are working to bring fundamental reforms to their schools. CER is the leading authority for information on innovative reforms in education and works in states and communities across the country to advance the cause of educational excellence.