Here's Randi's op ed in the WSJ, calling for emergency federal funding to address likely big layoffs.  I hope you're sitting down, but I actually agree with her – as long as the aid comes with sensible conditions like no layoffs purely by seniority.  I just learned that in NYC, if layoffs were done by merit (meaning some high-cost but lousy teachers would be laid off, rather than just the lowest-cost junior teachers), it would save 27%!  (In other words, 27% fewer teachers would have to be laid off to save the same amount of money – this is a REALLY important number.)

According to a survey of more than 80% of school districts by the American Association of School Administrators, 275,000 teachers and other school staff will receive pink slips. It's not that these schools will educate fewer children, or that students won't need the personnel and programs that will be cut. But the cuts could rob an entire generation of students of the well-rounded education they need and deserve. Class sizes will swell, and students will lose important classes and programs, such as art, music, physical education, Advanced Placement classes, and counseling and intervention programs for those who need the most help.

I have been traveling the country, watching teachers, administrators and unions striving to implement some of the most progressive and effective reform efforts in decades. But genuine school reform can't be accomplished with fewer teachers, unmanageable class sizes, and fewer intervention programs for struggling students. Children don't have a pause button—they need a great education during good economic times and bad.

The federal government didn't let Wall Street fail. Why would we do less for our public schools, which undeniably are too important to fail? Almost every state will be unable to provide adequate funding for public schools until the financial situation improves.

-----------------------

• MAY 20, 2010

Public Schools Need a Bailout

Washington didn't let Wall Street fail. Why should we do less for our kids?

By RANDI WEINGARTEN