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<p class=MsoNormal><span class=title><font size=5 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:Arial'>McCain, Obama float education plans</span></font></span><font
size=5 face=Arial><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:Arial'> </span></font><span
class=subtitle><font size=1><span style='font-size:9.0pt'><br>
Candidates’ proposals reveal very different ideas about public schooling</span></font></span><font
size=1 face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'> <br>
<span class=byline>By Maya T. Prabhu, Assistant Editor, </span></span></font><span
class=byline><b><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold'>eSchool News</span></font></b></span><font
size=1 face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:12.0pt'><font size=1 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:1.0pt;font-family:Arial'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:12.0pt'><font size=1 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Primary Topic Channel: <a
href="http://www.eschoolnews.com/search/?tid=147" title="Federal Policy"><font
color="#003399"><span style='color:#003399'>Federal Policy</span></font></a> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:12.0pt'><font size=1 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:1.0pt;font-family:Arial'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;line-height:12.0pt;
background:white'><font size=1 face=Arial><span style='font-size:7.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><img border=0 width=255 height=195 id="_x0000_i1025"
src="cid:image002.jpg@01C8F0C4.A1E6E8A0"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:12.0pt;background:white'><font size=1
face=Arial><span style='font-size:7.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Both presidential
candidates address educational technology, but in very different ways.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p style='line-height:12.0pt'><font size=1 face=Arial><span style='font-size:
9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Presumptive presidential nominees Barack Obama (D) and
John McCain (R) have released more details about their education platforms in
recent days, with both candidates making technology a focal point of their
plans. However, there are stark differences in their proposals that reflect
deeply different philosophies about the government's role in education. McCain
favors federal funding for virtual schools and online courses as part of a
larger focus on school-choice initiatives—including private school
vouchers for low-income families. Obama, on the other hand, wants to invest
more federal money into research and education for science, math, and
technology.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p style='line-height:12.0pt'><font size=1 face=Arial><span style='font-size:
9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>McCain revealed details of his education plan in a
speech before the NAACP, the nation's oldest civil rights organization, on July
16. He said his plan focuses on strengthening the country's schools through
empowering parents and teachers and providing equality of school choice. "For
all the best efforts of teachers and administrators, the worst problems of our
public school system are often found in black communities," he told the
NAACP. McCain added that he supports the Opportunity Scholarship that is
offered in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Washington</st1:City>, <st1:State
w:st="on">D.C.</st1:State></st1:place>, and uses public money to give private
school vouchers to low-income families. Obama opposes private school vouchers. "Too
many of our children are trapped by geography and by economics in failing
schools," states the McCain campaign's web site. Details of the <st1:State
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Arizona</st1:place></st1:State> senator's
education plan appeared on his campaign web site in conjunction with his July
16 speech. According to the site, McCain plans to target $500 million in
existing federal funds to build new virtual schools and support the development
of online course offerings for students. The plan allots $250 million for
states to build virtual math and science academies and another $250 million for
digital-passport scholarships. "Low-income students will be eligible to
receive up to $4,000 to enroll in an online course, SAT/ACT prep course, credit
recovery, or tutoring services offered by a virtual provider," the plan states.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p style='line-height:12.0pt'><font size=1 face=Arial><span style='font-size:
9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Obama also recently posted more details about his
education policies on his campaign web site, outlining his plan to invest in
the research and development of science, math, and technology education. "We
currently make inadequate investments into researching and developing better
educational tools and methods," the plan states, noting that less then
seven-tenths of one percent of the $400 billion spent on education annually is
spent on research and development. "As president, Barack Obama will double
our investment in early education and educational [research and development] by
the end of his first term in office. Part of this investment will involve [a
research and development] program for improving science education." The
plan also notes that while jobs in science, math, engineering, and technology
fields have increased, the number of students receiving higher-education
degrees in those fields has declined. "In the 21st century, everyone needs
to know science and math, not only to find employment, but also to be healthy
and well-informed citizens," Obama's plan states. "Moreover, over 80
percent of the fastest growing occupations are dependent upon a knowledge base
in science and math." At the Association of Educational Publishers' Great
American Education Forum held June 6, Obama's education advisor, Jeanne
Century, said Obama also intends to push for broadband internet access in all
K-12 schools and classrooms. But no mention of this idea appeared in the plan
that was posted to Obama's web site as of press time. According to the plan,
Obama also intends to focus on recruiting high-quality math and science
teachers through a scholarship program. "Barack Obama's Teaching Service
Scholarship program will prioritize recruiting math, science, and technology
degree graduates. Additionally, Obama's Teacher Residency Program can also
supply teachers in these high-needs subject areas," the plan states. Obama
expanded on his teacher service scholarship plan during a July 5 speech to
delegates from the National Education Association (NEA), the country's largest
teacher union. "My plan includes service scholarships to recruit top
teachers and residency programs to prepare them to serve in high-need
schools," he said to the group via satellite, in accepting its endorsement.
"And because too often undergraduate debt discourages our young people
from choosing education as a profession, I will make this pledge to all who
sign up—if you commit your life to teaching, <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region
w:st="on">America</st1:country-region></st1:place> will commit to paying for
your education." Obama's plan also focuses on ensuring that all children
have access to high-quality early childhood education programs and child care,
closing the achievement gap, and rewarding expert, accomplished teachers for
taking on challenging assignments and helping students succeed. "When our
educators succeed, I will not just talk about how great they are, I will reward
them for their greatness with better pay across the board and more
support," he told the NEA representatives.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p style='line-height:12.0pt'><font size=1 face=Arial><span style='font-size:
9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Supporting higher pay for exemplary performance is one
area where the two candidates appear to share common ground, as McCain also
called for merit pay for teachers in his speech to the NAACP. It's time to use
vouchers and other tools such as merit pay for teachers to break from
conventional thinking on educational policy, McCain told the civil-rights
group. Noting that Obama has dismissed support for private school vouchers for
low-income Americans, McCain added: "All of that went over well with the
teachers union, but where does it leave families and their children who are
stuck in failing schools? No entrenched bureaucracy or union should deny
parents that choice and children that opportunity." <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p style='line-height:12.0pt'><font size=1 face=Arial><span style='font-size:
9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Obama has spoken in favor of performance-based merit
pay for individual public school teachers before, even telling the NEA the idea
should be considered in a speech last year. However, in his July 5 speech to
the organization, Obama said he doesn't support merit pay as it is commonly
understood—where teachers are rewarded based on how their students perform
on standardized tests. "Under my plan, districts will be able to design
programs to give educators who serve them as mentors to new teachers the salary
increases they've earned. [Districts will] be able to reward those who teach in
underserved areas or take on added responsibility. And if teachers learn new
skills or serve their students better, or if they consistently excel in the
classroom, that work can be valued and rewarded as well," he said. "Now
in some places, we've already seen that it's possible to find new ways to
increase teacher pay that are developed with teachers, not imposed on
teachers," Obama continued, to boos from the audience. "I know this
wasn't necessarily the most popular part of my speech last year, but I said it
then and I say it again today—because it's what I believe."<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p style='line-height:12.0pt'><em><i><font size=1 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Material from the Associated Press
was used in this report.</span></font></i></em><font size=1 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p style='line-height:12.0pt'><strong><b><font size=1 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Links:</span></font></b></strong><font
size=1 face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p style='line-height:12.0pt'><font size=1 face=Arial><span style='font-size:
9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><a
href="http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/News/PressReleases/b9a7c28f-141c-4008-b724-debd2df51642.htm"><font
color="#003399"><span style='color:#003399'>John McCain's education policy</span></font></a>
- http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/News/PressReleases/b9a7c28f-141c-4008-b724-debd2df51642.htm<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p style='line-height:12.0pt'><font size=1 face=Arial><span style='font-size:
9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><a href="http://www.barackobama.com/issues/education"><font
color="#003399"><span style='color:#003399'>Barack Obama's education policy</span></font></a>
- http://origin.barackobama.com/issues/education/<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p style='line-height:12.0pt'><font size=1 face=Arial><span style='font-size:
9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><a
href="http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/News/Speeches/Read.aspx?guid=611f71e"><font
color="#003399"><span style='color:#003399'>John McCain's NAACP speech</span></font></a>
- <a
href="http://www.johnmccain.com/informing/news/Speeches/611f71e5-0d16-49da-914a-d741646fa1e2.htm">http://www.johnmccain.com/informing/news/Speeches/611f71e5-0d16-49da-914a-d741646fa1e2.htm</a><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p style='line-height:12.0pt'><font size=1 face=Arial><span style='font-size:
9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQRGpAPnfjE"><font
color="#003399"><span style='color:#003399'>Barack Obama's NEA speech</span></font></a>
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQRGpAPnfjE<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p style='line-height:12.0pt'><font size=1 face=Arial><span style='font-size:
9.0pt;font-family:Arial'><a href="http://www.eschoolnews.com/tw708"><font
color="#003399"><span style='color:#003399'>eSN TechWatch newscast with Obama/McCain
education advisors</span></font></a> - http://www.eschoolnews.tv/Esntv.aspx?Filename=TechWatch708entire_e37fbc76-0544-4a90-8366-3880be83a5ab.flv<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><strong><b><font size=4 face="Monotype Corsiva"><span
style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Monotype Corsiva"'>Linda Mason, Ed.D.</span></font></b></strong><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Coordinator for Grant Writing and External Funding</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on"><font size=2
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Oklahoma</span></font></st1:PlaceName><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">State</st1:PlaceType></span></font></st1:place><font size=2
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'> Regents for Higher
Education</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><st1:Street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on"><font size=2
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>655 Research
Parkway, Suite 200</span></font></st1:address></st1:Street><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on"><font size=2
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Oklahoma City</span></font></st1:City><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>, <st1:State
w:st="on">OK</st1:State> <st1:PostalCode w:st="on">73104</st1:PostalCode></span></font></st1:place><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>405-225-9486</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><a href="mailto:lmason@osrhe.edu">lmason@osrhe.edu</a></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>IP: 164.58.250.178</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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