Assemblyman David G. McDonough (R,C,I-Merrick), a member of the Assembly Minority Task Force on Successful Schools, is releasing its report on the programs and techniques that successful schools use and what the Legislature can do to foster their use in schools across New York.

The report is based on information obtained by the Task Force after hosting 15 roundtable discussions in 2006 at elementary, middle and high schools across New York. The forums brought together local Assembly members and school administrators, educators, parents and students.

“The forums were essential for gathering information on successful schools and the programs and techniques that help their students achieve and surpass their goals,” said McDonough. “In addition to the positive accomplishments, we heard about many of the hurdles and obstructions confronting school districts. It is vital to our students’ success that they have the tools necessary to achieve high academic standards.”

The Task Force agenda focused on school finances, community and parental involvement, the Regents learning standards, technology in the classroom, school construction, and school safety.

The report highlights some of the best practices and points out some of the problems that plague even the best school districts. Here are a few:

• The need for cost certainty – District officials supported a two-year budget cycle for education spending. This would enable school districts to make long-term financial decisions and have sufficient time to prepare education budgets prior to submitting them for voter approval.
• Community and parental involvement - Parents who know what is going on in their child’s school are more likely to participate in their education. School districts that emphasize and encourage community involvement are in a better position to justify to their taxpayers the resources they need to maximize educational success.
• The Regents learning standards – Many school districts questioned the use of a one-size-fits-all approach to standardized testing. A single measurement of achievement forces teachers and school districts to “teach to the test,” putting test scores ahead of individual learning.
• Technology in the Classroom – Creating an Internet Grade Book Program would provide teachers and parents greater flexibility in the recording and monitoring of grade information. This program would allow parents and teachers to track individual and class grades, attendance and homework assignments.
• Safety – Project SAVE, the Safe Schools against Violence in Education Act, signed into law in 2000, provides for a school code of conduct, incident reporting guidelines, violence prevention and intervention training, and a component for civility, citizenship and character development. The law has no provisions for bullying and hazing prompting the Assembly Republican Conference’s “Schools as Safe Harbors” legislation addressing many concerns involving bullying and hazing incidents.