What State Policy Makers are Saying About the New Focus of Quality Counts
“I commend Education Week for significantly expanding the focus and context of its annual Quality Counts report. This report recognizes that student success and the success of our society in the future rests not just the quality of our K-12 education system but with many partners working together to prepare students for the future, from preschool through college, in and out of the classroom.”
-Jack O’Connell, California State Superintendent
“I’m excited about the K-12 academic index and our ranking there. I’m also happy that they’re looking at outcomes and at a preschool-to-20 system. In a sense, it’s where we’re trying to go in Washington. It shows an understanding of the importance of early learning and the ‘preparation gap,’ how important kids coming to school ready to learn is to the K-12 system, and how college success is linked to what we do in K-12. It’s a recognition of the whole system, from a kid’s viewpoint, and a much better way to measure. They’re starting to look at direction and indicators that we should be watching to improve the outcomes for students at all points in their lives. It fits where Washington Learns is going.”
-Terry Bergeson, Washington Superintendent of Public Instruction
Select Quality Counts 2007 coverage from across the country
State has right mix for success - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
State students get a good start for long-term success - Salt Lake Tribune
State’s children less likely to succeed - San Fransisco Chronicle
Florida failing its students, report says - Orlando Sentinel
Select editorials
‘Chance’ report should concern - Montgomery Advertiser
Before and after school says - Bangor Daily News
Chance-for-success ranking doesn’t tell whole story - Appleton Post-Crescent
Follow Virginia’s lead - Atlanta Journal-Constitution