AASA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TRAVELS TO NJASA

Discusses A New Road for Education with a New President and New Congress

Dr. Dan Domenech, Executive Director of the American Association of School Administrators (AASA), spoke to NJASA members at Trenton Headquarters on March 19, 2009 as part of NJASA’s Executive Leader Speaker Series. His topic, New President, New Congress, New Road for Education, was focused on federal legislation and upcoming funding. His thought- provoking, timely presentation coupled with his expertise, elicited much interaction among the group.

Domenech stated that Arne Duncan, new US Secretary of Education, was supportive of school administrators because he has allowed AASA a seat at the table for input and discussion of how the new federal Economic Recovery and Reinvestment Act: Stimulus Fund for Schools can best be used. The previous administration did not include AASA and other educational organizations an opportunity to influence federal decision-making. While AASA is not supportive of every component of new educational initiatives promoted by the Obama Administration, Domenech is pleased to have an opportunity to be included in the decision-making process.

The AASA Executive Director spoke at length about the following:

· NCLB: has become the federal bill that has had the most significant impact on local education. The continued focus on reading and math, due to testing requirements, is having a negative impact on all other 21st century skills and knowledge. Because of the precedents that were set, the federal government is finding it difficult to extricate its involvement. The reauthorization of NCLB is not a focus of Congress and will not be reauthorized until at least next year. Nevertheless the heightened level of accountability, disaggregation of data, and the goal of leaving no child behind educationally, will continue.

· Title 1: Funded significantly in the stimulus package, went from 4 titles and 3 grants in 1965, to 11 titles and 93 programs and is a disjointed collection of unrelated programs and services begging for a consolidation and focus. However, this is the funding mechanism that Congress had to work with.

· AASA position is that all federal dollars and services should go to the total child and that poverty is the greatest single factor limiting student achievement.

· The Economic Recovery and Reinvestment Act was explored in depth by Dr. Domenech as he highlighted key points and reviewed timelines and limitations to using the funds appropriately.
For example, 50% of the new IDEA funds may be used to supplant current special education funding.

· There is a sense that emphasis in the future will be placed on the creation of national curriculum standards and in probability a national test.

Following the presentation, attendees had the opportunity to personally share ideas on how to best use the new funding and to interact with Dr. Domenech in regard to their plans.