News summaries
GAO study found cost savings in agency outsourcing
A news GAO study that examined the costs of the State Department hiring
private security contractors in Iraq versus doing the work themselves
found that the government saved money.
GAO
Why I changed my mind about school reform - opinion
Federal testing has narrowed education and charter schools have failed
to live up to their promise.. By the time I left government service in
January 1993, I was an advocate not only for standards but for school
choice. I had come to believe that standards and choice could co-exist
as they do in the private sector. With my friends Chester Finn Jr. and
Joseph Viteritti, I wrote and edited books and articles making the case
for charter schools and accountability...As No Child Left Behind's
(NCLB) accountability regime took over the nation's schools under
President George W. Bush and more and more charter schools were
launched, I supported these initiatives. But over time, I became
disillusioned with the strategies that once seemed so promising. I no
longer believe that either approach will produce the quantum
improvement in American education that we all hope for. -- Diane
Ravitch is author of "The Death and Life of the Great American School
System: How Testing and Choice Are Undermining Education."
The Wall Street Journal
NY: Unions concerned reform could privatize colleges
State University of New York administrators are drooling over Gov.
David Paterson's proposed public higher-education reforms. But, for
university union employees, the dish is less appetizing than rotten
eggs and smells worse. Critics say Paterson's Public Higher Education
Empowerment and Innovation Act threatens SUNY's existence. They see it
as an attempt to privatize public universities that will push education
beyond the reach of the less affluent, while squeezing parents and
students for money the state no longer invests. The union contends the
legislation could affect individual jobs while allowing New York state
to further abandon its obligation to provide affordable and accessible
public education. Paterson's budget would reduce funding to SUNY by
$152 million...The union says the legislation will not create jobs but
will instead be costly to parents and students, largely because it
gives SUNY the power to raise tuition, including differential tuition,
without government approval....The bill would enable SUNY to enter into
public/private partnerships with little oversight, the union said, and
removes prior approval by the state comptroller and legislature when
making purchases or beginning construction.
Plattsburgh Press Republican
NY: State park supporters come out in full force
In their battle to prevent the potential closings of New York state
parks and historic sites, park advocates have enlisted the help of
singing protestors, marching children and angry lawmakers who all are
demanding the state do everything possible to keep parks open. At the
press conference held in the Senate Lobby, Serrano and Englebright were
joined by 12 other lawmakers who shared their anger over the possible
41 state parks and 14 historic sites that could be closed as a result
of budget cuts proposed in Gov. David A. Paterson's 2010-2011 Executive
Budget. "I think we should have all options on the table to try and
find a way to fill this hole," said Serrano, "whether it be bonding for
funds for state parks, fee increases or even diverting stimulus dollars
to other areas to offset funds to help stave off cuts to parks."...In
response to the notion of privatizing the parks, Serrano reiterated his
ideas of increasing fees, selling bonds and the diversion of stimulus
dollars, but he also brought up the possibility of using money now
earmarked for capital improvements for a different purpose. "There is
$20 million already sitting there, real money, for capital
improvements. If that money could be shifted over to operating
expenses, we could close this gap immediately," said Serrano. "All of
those options need to be explored before thinking about privatizing."
Legislative Gazette
AZ: Privatize state parks? Legislature studying change
Privatizing some state parks will be the focus of a study requested by
a legislative committee, says Michael Styler, executive director of the
Utah Department of Natural Resources. Styler said possible changes to
state parks in the works this legislative session have rattled him.
"I'm really nervous," he said.
Standard-Examiner
