Does the president think about education at all?
I like to say that Biden doesn't have an education agenda. Turns out, he does.
I've spent years criticizing public education and am deeply critical of its shortcomings. The future of our kids is at stake, and I always feel we are too lax about the problem.
The repetitive main thread of my writing is that we can educate any child we choose, but we are not doing it. Solutions exist. We’re not pursuing them.
By “we,” I mean the powers that be.
I’ve often gone after the final boss. Called out presidents, especially the liberal ones. Claimed they did nothing to fix our broken schools. Argued for reforms like private school vouchers, religious instruction, and punitive consequences for poorly performing schools. My aperture was too small.
It’s larger now. I’m open to the idea that public education isn't failing, and our current president can be fairly assessed as doing nothing. Whether or not I agree with his strategies, I must admit that his administration oversees many policies, programs, and budgets to support schools and students.
So, in the spirit of fair debate and informed activism, I looked at President Biden’s actual policy set, which makes up his agenda for education.
Here’s my very unsexy summary.
President Biden’s actual agenda for education
In January 2024, the Biden-Harris Administration rolled out the Improving Student Achievement Agenda. It’s a comprehensive plan aimed at boosting academic performance for every child in America. This isn’t just talk. It’s a strategic approach using accountability, reporting, grants, and technical assistance.
The focus? Three evidence-based strategies:
Increasing student attendance
Providing high-dosage tutoring
Expanding summer learning and extended or after-school learning time
Key Strategies for Improving Student Achievement
1. Increasing Student Attendance
Chronic absenteeism spiked during the pandemic. In the 2021-2022 school year, it hit about 31%. This absenteeism contributed significantly to declines in student performance. Research shows absenteeism can account for up to 27% of declines in math scores and 45% in reading scores.
To tackle this, the Administration focuses on low-cost interventions like texting parents about missed school days. This simple measure can reduce absenteeism by up to 17%. They also promote home visits and early warning systems to increase student attendance. These tailored strategies help ensure students attend school regularly, leading to better academic outcomes.
2. Providing High-Dosage Tutoring
High-dose tutoring is a game-changer. Well-implemented programs can enable students to achieve up to 1.5 years of achievement in math. Effective tutoring means at least three 30-minute weekly sessions in small groups during school hours, with well-trained tutors and a structured curriculum.
Cities like Chicago, Baltimore, and Greensboro have leveraged American Rescue Plan funds to scale these programs. The results? Promising. When done right, these programs boost learning and reduce burdens on teachers.
3. Increasing Summer Learning and Extended or Afterschool Learning Time
Extending learning time is crucial. High-quality afterschool programs, longer school days, and summer learning can significantly enhance student achievement. Consistent participation in afterschool programs can add about four months of learning to the academic year. Extending the school day can improve test scores by 11% to 24% in low-income areas. Summer programs that last five weeks can add two months of learning in math and one month in reading.
Nearly half of U.S. school districts have invested ARP funds in expanded summer learning programs. The impact? Positive. These initiatives are improving student performance.
Actions and Commitments
The Administration isn’t just talking. They’re acting. Here’s how:
Publishing States’ Specific Actions: Urging states and districts to commit to strategies like increasing home visits and providing high-dosage tutoring.
Using Data and School Improvement Requirements: Monitoring implementation of evidence-based strategies and tracking progress in closing achievement gaps. Encouraging states to use chronic absenteeism as an indicator and provide tailored support.
Providing Technical Assistance: Support through Comprehensive Centers, Regional Education Labs, and other partners.
Continuing Use of Pandemic Relief Funds: Advising states on using ARP funds for academic support into the 2024-2025 school year. It also guides other federal funding, including Title I and Title IV.
Supporting Academic Achievement Through Grant Programs: Planning several grant competitions in 2024 to support strategies like high-dosage tutoring and extended learning time.
National Partnership for Student Success (NPSS): Calling on colleges to use at least 15% of their federal work-study funds for students employed in NPSS roles, promoting education as a profession.
Financial Commitments
Significant financial investments back this agenda:
American Rescue Plan (ARP): $130 billion for reopening schools, hiring teachers, providing tutoring, and more.
Education Innovation and Research Program: $90 million in 2023 for strengthening math, literacy, and science instruction.
Full-Service Community Schools Grants: $120 million in additional mental health and academic success funding.
Comprehensive Literacy State Development and Innovative Approaches to Literacy Grants: $48 million in 2023 for literacy interventions.
21st Century Community Learning Centers: Over $1 billion yearly for afterschool programs.
School-Based Mental Health Professionals and Services: More than $2 billion, including Bipartisan Safer Communities Act funding.
Title I: $18.4 billion, an increase of $1.9 billion, for low-income community schools.
IDEA State Grants: $14.2 billion, an increase of $1.3 billion, for special education services.
Evidence of Impact
The strategies work. Here’s the evidence:
Attendance Interventions: Reducing absenteeism significantly improves test scores and academic performance.
High-Dosage Tutoring: This leads to substantial learning gains, especially in math.
Extended Learning Programs: Extended school days, high-quality afterschool programs, and summer learning positively impact student achievement.
So, what’s wrong with Biden’s agenda?
President Biden's 2024 education agenda is solid and evidence-based. It aims to improve student achievement by increasing attendance, providing high-dosage tutoring, and expanding learning time. It's a big, costly plan. Biden's spending heavily to help states catch up and push kids forward.
Maybe it’s unfair to say he’s doing nothing. The president and his administration are doing plenty. They’re pouring resources into classrooms, but there's a big hole in their plan. They focus on support around the classroom but not enough on what happens inside it. Education is about teaching and learning. Afterschool programs, tutoring, mental health services, and parent engagement are all great.
But let's get back to basics.
Teaching and learning. Teaching and learning. Teaching and learning. Teaching and learning. Teaching and learning. Teaching and learning. Teaching and learning. Teaching and learning. Teaching and learning. Teaching and learning. Teaching and learning. Teaching and learning.
How are teachers trained, distributed, supported, and evaluated? How strong are their materials? Are their practices evidence-based? Do we have adequate classrooms to address any student's needs? What do strong schools do to solve our most vexing challenges, and how do we replicate that? How should we intervene when students are not excelling?
I don’t have all the answers, but I know there are answers. Learning challenges aren’t insurmountable.
That said, the current president frustrates me. His education secretary lacks the vision and substance to effectively educate the nation’s students. And don’t get me started on their duplicity about standards, assessments, and charter schools. In those areas, the administration is wavy gravy.
Still, I aim to be fair in my critiques. Public education, writ large, is not failing, and no single advocate's solution is a foolproof fix.
The president isn’t doing everything I would have him do to bolster student achievement, but that’s not the same as doing nothing.