Kerry Bailes’ Post

I agree with Sherri Few, cited in this article, that school choice initiatives will have second-order effects, including accountability regimes which will eventually overreach (some may very well start out at that level) to regulate and restrict private schooling and home education. This doesn’t even cover effects such as driving up the cost of educational resources and service even for those who do not utilize the programs being implemented. Government programs are inherently bureaucratic and portend only to growth without efficacy, an insatiable appetite for fiscal resources, and a propensity to wander away from their original purpose (in the military we called it “mission creep”). I would differ on one point: I disagree that “tax credits” are good way to go (perhaps better, but not good). At some point, even with tax credits, there would need to be validation and verification of those who claim such a credit, and this is yet another door, albeit perhaps a smaller one, through which the government might make entrance. Once their foot is in the door, you have given the first inch, and they will take the first mile...at a minimum. The only thing I will clearly support is a reduced tax burden (not a rebate or credit), whereby the government begins to extricate itself from the business of schooling, ideally beginning at the federal level. Make no mistake, government schooling is an industry, and a monopoly industry at that. Like any other industrial monopoly, costs will incessantly escalate while the quality of the product, in this case the character and intellect of the students subjugated thereto, will continuously decline. #HomeEducation #homeschool #homeschooling #education #GetOutNow #PublicSchoolExit #ChristianEducation #EdcuationIsDiscipleship #ChristianHomeschoolRevolution https://lnkd.in/gPt7rJfp

As a school leader in a challenging school, we had a number of learners for whom alternative provision was a route to reengage learners with formal learning environments. Over the last 15 years, alternative provisions have become the focus of academy trusts and specialist provision, offering environments where learners can flourish away from the traditional classroom-based school setups. Apart from the conversation about the one-size-fits-all provision being completely unrealistic, 20,000 children being placed in unregulated or unregistered AP provisions, on the one hand, is caused by a lack of service in areas of the country and on the other hand, as Geoff Barton of ASCL says the situation is "far from ideal". Given that this is funded with public funds and every provision within the state sector needed to be available for Ofsted scrutiny, regulation of these environments is necessary, but the pace of change is not keeping up with demand. I would express concern that the increased quantity of needs, knowing that EHCP and SEND numbers are increasing, is that school design remains static. Alternatives are only achieved by sending learners elsewhere. Is this something we need to look at nationally, where we see more schools talking about getting learners out of the classroom to do context-based learning with teachers training in forest school techniques and structures being redesigned to provide an adapted curriculum? This is going some way to look at the capacity question within the system. Are you using unregulated AP? Why did you choose that over another provision? Does it serve your learners well, and how could that be brought in-house? https://lnkd.in/e4YJ63bt #educationreform #educationpolicy #education #schoolleadership #headteacher #principal #edtech

C.R.E.A.M.!! 💰💰💰This is a great preview and review of the Education Committee's work regarding equitable school funding in #CT. Penn Lincoln Strategies is looking forward to working with this 💪bipartisan group of legislators to move forward on this in the 2024 legislative session. #schoolfinance #education #bipartisanship #ctpolitics

With the fantastic support of the Laidlaw Foundation, me, Sally Burtonshaw and @williamyates have spent a big chunk of the last few months polling and focus grouping parents, teachers, Mat trustees, governors and educationists. We wanted to discover the scale of appetite for Ofsted, accountability and curriculum reform. Coverage of the final output - Building Tomorrow’s Healthy, Confident and Productive Citizens - has had enormous coverage across the nationals. We found that while parents are clear they don't want schools to take their eye off the academic ball, they also want to see a broader and more balanced offer that takes in more co-curricular stuff – art, music, drama, sport etc – that is still so common place in the indie sector. This is a social justice issue. They also want schools to focus more on “life skills” and the things often tied up on PSHE and Citizenship. More work clearly needs to be done on defining this (it’s as clear as mud) but the appetite for digital and financial literacy is pronounced. Parents are especially keen that Ofsted and accountability should reflect a broader focus. The idea of Ofsted publishing a “balanced score card” rather than the current controversial one-word judgement is very very popular. Labour will be pleased. As the authors, we were absolutely clear that increasing what we want schools to provide in this way would only be possible with an extended school day… Which in turn would only be possible with significant financial investment in teachers and their working environments. Workload must not be allowed to increase. However, if we get this right and if Bridget Phillipson and Labour were to adopt some of these plans (as I hope), we could go along way to making schools and trusts even more important in the fabric of society as civic anchors in our communities. Huge thanks to Susanna Kempe and Sally Newton for being the most wonderful colleagues and clients. And Nikol Chen for having the patience of a saint. Do take a look: https://lnkd.in/ebEegEEj

As we start the new year, Education Week highlights themes from the past year that “illustrate the value of paying close attention to what’s happening in school finance—and the structural problems that hold schools and students back.” Check it out: https://lnkd.in/eB4KFyNK #EdChat #K12 #SchoolLeaders

Attention Higher Education Community! 📣 We're facing a concerning 30% decrease in FAFSA submissions compared to last year. The revised process has proven challenging, leaving many students frustrated and delaying their applications. Great article from The Hechinger Report https://bit.ly/3VFTD8I This alarming trend could lead to a significant loss of students from the higher education pipeline, impacting future workforces, economic mobility, and America's global competitiveness. We're committed to supporting students through this process. We've prepared a FAFSA guide to help families complete their applications swiftly. Click below to access the guide and share it widely within your networks. Together, we can ensure no student is left behind in their pursuit of higher education. https://bit.ly/4awktUT #FAFSA #HigherEd #CollegeAccess #StudentSuccess

Much to agree with in this interesting report. Certainly, a recognition of the importance of extra- or co-curricula activity would be very welcome, as would a more balanced approach to inspection. However two reflections for implementation. I don’t think we should worry too much about accountability or measurement. If we create the space, schools will happily do this. Parents are well able to judge the effectiveness of this provision in a way most aren’t able to judge, say, the physics curriculum. And, in many respects, the activities are ends in themselves. On a similar note, I would not officially define or codify ‘life skills’. There are various good unofficial models - like Skills Builder for example - and we probably all have own lists. An official list would likely be reductive. Once again, these activities are end in themselves. Worry about living, get lots of things done, and the skills will look after themselves - diffferent people will take away very different lessons. We should have faith that a young person who does sport and art and who plays an instrument and performs in a production and volunteers in the community will take away lots of useful skills without necessarily listing and measuring them. Above all, can you imagine the perverse consequences of an officially scutinised list of life skills to which schools are accountable. Step one is a league table for, say, resilience, followed by lessons in resilience, followed by teaching to the test in resilience. Followed by the compete erosion of actual resilience…. Finally, none of this should be taken to diminish the importance of academic knowledge in core subjects. Exams have their place too; they just don’t measure everything of value. A strong academic curriculum matched with a vibrant co-curriculum is a way to have our cake and eat it. I leave as an exercise for the reader how we might pay for all this though… As Ed says, this should not be done it a way that leads to an increase in workload.

📰Staying informed in the ever-evolving world of education can be a challenge. But do not panic, we've curated a quick recap of 5 key education stories from last week: 🚩Confederation of School Trusts outlines 4 reforms for ‘fairer’ school funding - Academy body calls for SEND cash through the national funding formula, a policy premium and a new private finance building scheme. 🚩MAT chiefs warn over ‘unaffordable’ pay rise - The Department for Education must issue extra funding to help some schools fund teacher pay rise for 2024-25. 🚩6 ways MATs can tackle SEND challenges - The new report by NFER highlights six key ways trusts can better support staff and deliver SEND provision. 🚩Absence rates up despite attendance drive - The Department for Education data shows a rise in overall absence and pupils persistently absent last term compared with spring 2022-23. 🚩Schools ‘biggest source of food aid’ for families - 1 in 5 schools is now running a food bank, says a new report warning that policymakers are unaware of child hunger. Want to delve deeper? 👇Dive into the full blog post for more details and insights https://hubs.ly/Q02tK6090 News sources: Tes and Schools Week #education #educationnews #schoolsurveys #schooltrusts

Breaking news: Missouri Senators approve Omnibus Education Package with Expanded School Choice Program! 📚✨ Omnibus Education Package with Expanded School Choice Program Sanctioned by Missouri Senators Read More: https://rb.gy/2n8d6f #EducationReform #SchoolChoice #MissouriEducation #Legislation #EducationPolicy #BreakingNews

MAT CFO's and MAT Finance Teams. With the excitement of Christmas and New Year you may of missed these Funding updates from the ESFA 📈 School Funding Settlement for 2024/2025 According to the DFE "Schools in England are set to benefit from cash injection as education funding reaches almost £60 billion in 2024/2025 -it's highest ever level in real terms" 🤔 🤔 👉 https://bit.ly/3RTv0St 📉 The ESFA have released the methodology for the teachers' pay additional grant (TPAG) 2024-2025, including guidance on how funding will be allocated for both mainstream schools, special schools and AP schools 👉 https://bit.ly/48r1B9d 📈 Pupil premium funding rates for 2024/2025 👉 https://bit.ly/3RS6EIr Wishing all MAT Leaders and MAT Finance teams all the best in 2024