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Webanywhere challenges US secretary of Education and Governor of Pennsylvania on parental engagement issues
Following the harsh budget cuts many U.S. states have recently experienced, concern for the state of education is a hot topic amongst those affected. The U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan aimed to ease the concerns of those affected in Pennsylvania on Monday when he joined Gov. Edward G. Rendell for a public discussion on the education progress in Pennsylvania at the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce.
During Rendell’s eight years in office he has increased basic education spending, advocating schools as a good investment for thriving businesses and a healthy job market.
After initial talks from Duncan and Rendell, the floor was opened for questions from a sizeable audience consisting of federal, state and local elected officials, school superintendents, teachers, college and university officials, education association leaders, non-profit organization staff and business leaders.
Webanywhere managing director, Sean Gilligan, who sat amongst the audience, seized his opportunity to find out more about the US and state Governments’ views on the importance of parental engagement in schools . Duncan said the Obama administration is looking to double its investment in such initiatives to $340 million, noting they have been underfunded in the past.
Audience members also heard Rendell claim that recent education gains made by Pennsylvania students could be jeopardized with next year's anticipated loss of $650 million in federal stimulus money.
Duncan acknowledged widespread concern about curricula that omit arts, music and physical education, saying the administration is asking for $1 billion to promote a well-rounded education.
The two also covered the need to expand alternative certification programs, reduce the national dropout rate of 25 percent and the importance of early childhood education funding and broader curricula.
On a final note Duncan talked about the "Race to the Top" program in which states compete for federal education grants. Pennsylvania did not win money in either of the first two rounds, which Rendell attributed in part to the state's failure to expand alternative certification programs for teachers.
