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What are the three greatest challenges for education in Alaska?
#Response DateOther (please specify)
1.10/12/2008 6:11:00 AMIndigenous languages are being lost to all students of the state.
2.10/12/2008 10:28:00 PMWell-rounded education including arts &amp; music
3.10/13/2008 6:04:00 PMThere is no culture of Academic Achievement. It's not &quot;cool&quot; get good grades.
4.10/13/2008 6:12:00 PMenforced acculturation in rural traditional villages disguised as &quot;education&quot;
5.10/13/2008 6:25:00 PMmaintaining qualified and quality staff for all schools
6.10/13/2008 11:29:00 PMVocational training should begin in middle school for those not choosing an academic career.
7.10/14/2008 1:26:00 AMEducation programs at the post-secondary
8.10/14/2008 3:15:00 AMLack of access to resources for rural off-road teachers
9.10/14/2008 4:26:00 AMInstruction
10.10/15/2008 6:11:00 AMfederal specail ed laws broken, cutting the 3 year old program,
11.10/15/2008 5:02:00 PMCultural and Community Support
12.10/15/2008 5:19:00 PMCultures that differ from public education standards
13.10/15/2008 5:27:00 PMNCLB Act and all the craziness it creates
14.10/15/2008 5:46:00 PMStudent attendance
15.10/15/2008 6:11:00 PMMeaningful integration of first people's history and culture across the curriculum
16.10/15/2008 7:45:00 PMparental involvement - support
17.10/15/2008 8:16:00 PMAdults adhering to a higher moral standard because they are in charge of the children, there is no moral standard in place, so one of the declines in education in a whole is that the adults around the children are of low caliber (not less educated). A great place to see this is when teachers are coaches and interact with the kids in a different way outside of the classroom, the adult's true character comes out.
18.10/15/2008 8:35:00 PMStandards that don't reflect native realities
19.10/15/2008 8:59:00 PMCommunity awareness of our stengths/programs/successes and true challenges.
20.10/15/2008 10:42:00 PMToo much testing with not enough time to teach
21.10/15/2008 11:06:00 PMAttracting quality teachers
22.10/16/2008 2:23:00 AMLow motivation and lack of knowledge of and experience with the outside world
23.10/18/2008 6:38:00 PM2. Drug and alcohol abuse of students and their parents 3. Lack of community support and a negative attitude toward the importance of education.
24.10/18/2008 7:19:00 PMStop the insane amout of non releant paper work for teachers and administrators
25.10/19/2008 7:41:00 AMThe state allowing administration to hold a position of power when he or she have not completed their course work.
26.10/20/2008 1:41:00 AMParent Involvment
27.10/20/2008 9:04:00 PMparent participation
28.10/20/2008 9:34:00 PMprincipal &amp; dean are encouraging students to get GED's
29.10/20/2008 10:09:00 PMDealing with student use of alcohol, tobacco and drugs
30.10/21/2008 12:28:00 AMUnable to support CTE because of funding &amp; NCLB consequences
31.10/21/2008 6:02:00 PMinstitutional racism
32.10/21/2008 6:27:00 PMsome locations
33.10/21/2008 6:58:00 PMParent involvement - a necessity
34.10/21/2008 7:37:00 PMClass sizes are too large in cities and schools need forward funding
35.10/21/2008 7:57:00 PMUnfunded mandates and loss of local control
36.10/21/2008 8:04:00 PMsupport from families, communities
37.10/21/2008 8:19:00 PMparent support
38.10/21/2008 10:33:00 PMGetting staff, administration &amp; parents to work together in harmony to ensure every student gets the education they deserve.
39.10/21/2008 11:53:00 PMVillage negative climate towards education--sometimes warranted
40.10/21/2008 11:55:00 PMApathy
41.10/22/2008 4:16:00 AMConnections between classroom study and real life challenges
42.10/22/2008 4:39:00 PMtoo much time spent testing and keeping good teachers
43.10/22/2008 5:28:00 PMRemoteness/Isolation
44.10/22/2008 5:36:00 PMNo Child Left Behind, using standardized tests as the only measure of student and school success
45.10/22/2008 7:24:00 PMStaff need to learn about cross-cultural protocol and communication. They need to begin to understand that just because someone is from a different nationality, or not proficent in english, it doesn't mean that they are not smart.
46.10/22/2008 7:25:00 PMgood teachers
47.10/22/2008 8:00:00 PMhighly qualified teachers
48.10/22/2008 8:17:00 PMPrograms to train students not going on to college, Head Start Program waiting list too long and Head Start not having enough money for new buses and updated facilities
49.10/22/2008 8:29:00 PMLack of options at every level for diverse learners
50.10/22/2008 11:16:00 PMState funded preschool programs
51.10/22/2008 11:32:00 PMbeginning to believe that not all students go to college and push vocational as well as college
52.10/23/2008 1:30:00 AMsocial/family issues that affect learning and behaviors
53.10/23/2008 2:33:00 AMlack of sufficient work days to plan and develop curriculum
54.10/23/2008 3:27:00 AMvocational training, not all are going to mit
55.10/23/2008 3:47:00 AMThe difficulties of teachers teaching such varied leveled children with no aide or support
56.10/23/2008 3:48:00 AMlack of family 'buy in'
57.10/23/2008 4:56:00 AMWe have over a 40% or higher drop-out or push out rate in rural schools, we are assessing children for all the wrong things- we are not assessing child for the 21st century skills they will need to succeed. Context matters, and the contexts children are experiencing are hostile and subtractive in the affects on children's success.
58.10/23/2008 5:17:00 AMCultural Relevancy
59.10/23/2008 3:24:00 PMStudent attitude towards importance of education (motivation)
60.10/23/2008 3:51:00 PMDisparte education between rural and urban
61.10/23/2008 5:00:00 PMkeeping good teachers
62.10/23/2008 5:18:00 PMNCLB and all the other papwork we have to do, we've lost site of what is important
63.10/23/2008 5:36:00 PMVaried curriculum that teaches more than reading, writing and math. Less teaching to the test and more teaching to real life and student interests.
64.10/23/2008 6:02:00 PMbeing in the rural and getting stuff late...etc..
65.10/23/2008 6:30:00 PMacademic preparedness for federal tests due to cultural and medical ( FAS) and economic factors
66.10/23/2008 6:30:00 PMAppropriate curriculum that supports student instruction regarding the academic standards
67.10/23/2008 6:35:00 PMfunding, funding, funding
68.10/23/2008 6:36:00 PMFinding skilled/motivated teachers who are really interested in teaching
69.10/23/2008 6:37:00 PMParent involvement
70.10/23/2008 7:02:00 PMPracticing Learning Styles approach
71.10/23/2008 7:12:00 PMNCLB
72.10/23/2008 7:15:00 PMProviding adequate instruction for gifted students.
73.10/23/2008 9:19:00 PMmaking school experience authentic, relevant, and engaging for students. Also, we need alternative classrooms/schools that more explicitly help students learn successful social/behavioral skills. These alternatives need to occur not as SpEd interventions, but as options on the spectrum of RTI type services offered to differentially meet student needs.
74.10/23/2008 9:44:00 PMnot enough native teachers
75.10/23/2008 10:03:00 PMEnsuring that rural students learn/apply mathematics
76.10/23/2008 10:50:00 PMRacism-On the part of students, teachers, support staff towards minority students.
77.10/23/2008 11:38:00 PMThe interventions for reading used by many districts are a one size fits all approach and some are not culturally responsive and actually detrimental to helping kids in many village settings
78.10/23/2008 11:46:00 PMlack of developmentally appropriate environment for k-3 children; lack of recess; lack of availability of arts &amp; humanities for all students
79.10/24/2008 12:45:00 AMthe AYP - Teachers seem to &quot;teach the test&quot;...children learn differently from one another and need to be taught with a variety of methods.
80.10/24/2008 1:14:00 AMIdentification of Special Needs Children before 5th birthday preferably by 3 yrs
81.10/24/2008 1:18:00 AMengaging students in relevant learning
82.10/24/2008 1:37:00 AMlack of value of education from families
83.10/24/2008 1:49:00 AMteacher retention and quality
84.10/24/2008 3:56:00 AMPrincipals/Teachers in rural Alaska need far greater salaries just to pay their bills - not get rich as some think!
85.10/24/2008 5:26:00 AMFunding!
86.10/24/2008 3:21:00 PMAccess to and funding for training for educators
87.10/24/2008 3:46:00 PMknowledge of developing child prior to K. ECE
88.10/24/2008 3:49:00 PMStudent individual academic achievement
89.10/24/2008 4:58:00 PMTeachers forget who is the customer
90.10/24/2008 5:01:00 PMTeachers forget who is the customer
91.10/24/2008 6:14:00 PMHigh dropout rate among minorites
92.10/24/2008 8:54:00 PMLack of state mandated attendance policy with teeth
93.10/24/2008 8:55:00 PMNeed more school choice ie: charter schools
94.10/24/2008 9:29:00 PMteachers union needs to be baned, teachers aren't being held accountable, are untouchable and they know it.
95.10/24/2008 10:21:00 PMLack of an alternate diploma option for special ed students with learning disabilities who are useful members of society, but cannot pass the High School Graduation Qualifying Exam - THEY DESERVE A DIPLIMA!!!
96.10/24/2008 10:30:00 PMevalauting success by more than teaching to tests AND high school students that are truly prepared for post-secondary expectations
97.10/24/2008 10:40:00 PMimmature parents, lack of family support
98.10/24/2008 11:07:00 PMvocational education needed in levels 7 - 12 for alternative program for students with behavioral/handicapping needs.
99.10/24/2008 11:32:00 PMNo Child Left Behind does NOT work...it basically lowers the standards for all students instead of promoting advanced levels of education...in reality it should be called &quot;Leave Every Child Behind&quot; because we have simply lowered expectations to the lowest common denominator.
100.10/25/2008 12:01:00 AMI'd put programs to prepare k-12 students for work...and connections between early childhood...as tied for 3rd.
101.10/25/2008 12:02:00 AMHaving Alaskan teachers teach in Alaskan schools
102.10/25/2008 2:39:00 AMconnections between schools and real life out of school and after school
103.10/25/2008 5:45:00 AMUrban/rural spit and DEED refusal to see it
104.10/25/2008 5:49:00 AMGreater access to professional dev't opportunities
105.10/25/2008 3:20:00 PMAll of the above
106.10/25/2008 4:44:00 PMlack of basic grammar skills
107.10/25/2008 5:01:00 PMDivision between indistrict schools and statewide programs, all of which exist to serve Alaskan students
108.10/25/2008 5:03:00 PMLack of public preschools for low income youngsters
109.10/25/2008 5:34:00 PMstudent behavior connected to teacher education of appropriate modeling and discipline
110.10/26/2008 12:43:00 AMStudent apathy in general
111.10/26/2008 1:21:00 AMpreparing kids for self-defense
112.10/26/2008 2:08:00 AMHeavier emphasis on trades as post-high school options
113.10/26/2008 3:57:00 AMapathy of parents
114.10/26/2008 3:17:00 PM1. NEA 2. Contention from groups fighting parental choice
115.10/26/2008 4:21:00 PMThere are NO vocational opportunities for small rural schools, we need to put money into helping schools develop voc ed opportunitites for rural and remote schools. After all where are all the jobs in AK? They aren't going to kids with college degrees.
116.10/26/2008 5:45:00 PMAccountability re: graduation rates
117.10/26/2008 5:49:00 PMpoor curriculum choices
118.10/26/2008 6:12:00 PMVocational Education, small rural and remote schools need financial help to get these programs started, after all most jobs in AK are Voc Ed based, and we have few students going on to college, they need hands on voc ed classes that prepare them to go on to a continued program somewhere else.
119.10/26/2008 7:38:00 PMHiring competent teachers.
120.10/26/2008 10:50:00 PMPoor parenting--or absent parenting--has lead to challenges that are totally unfair for today's schools and educators.
121.10/27/2008 1:17:00 AMappropriate instruction, training teachers
122.10/27/2008 1:36:00 AMStudent apathy toward their own education.
123.10/27/2008 3:38:00 AMparental accountability
124.10/27/2008 6:58:00 AMQualified effective principals
125.10/27/2008 2:09:00 PMmaintaining population for small rural schools, social opportunities for secondary students at these schools
126.10/27/2008 3:29:00 PMi dont know
127.10/27/2008 3:54:00 PMLack of parent support
128.10/27/2008 4:42:00 PMthere are not enough vocational opportunities!!!
129.10/27/2008 6:44:00 PMLack of coordinated and comprehensive school health education
130.10/27/2008 7:29:00 PMHSGQE SHOULD NOT be required for a diploma only an indicator of academic achievement!!!!
131.10/27/2008 7:30:00 PMHigh school graduation Exit Exam
132.10/27/2008 8:35:00 PMPhase system within the LKSD curriculum is not a good option- not being run right
133.10/27/2008 8:52:00 PMThe teacher pay is too low...and quality teachers don't stay due to it.
134.10/27/2008 8:56:00 PMSchools are more interested in pleasing parents instead of motivating students. For instance, Student of the week or month. We need every student in every class to be student of the month, not one. Any school that picks one, means the other 20 in each class aren't students of the month. It is exclusive instead of inclusive
135.10/27/2008 9:08:00 PMHome school teachers need to be qualified score a minimum on SAT test in order to receive funds or send children to public school
136.10/27/2008 9:08:00 PMSpecial education programs
137.10/27/2008 9:23:00 PMFunding for staff development programs outweigh funding for instructional material.
138.10/27/2008 10:29:00 PMQualified teachers
139.10/27/2008 10:34:00 PMWe need to impliment local cultural studies/hands on experience to help our kids learn, because we are a native people that learn fast by experience not especially by reading for a length of time - we have to see and feel to have a sense on what to write about.
140.10/27/2008 11:01:00 PMAlaska used to be able to recruit quality teachers. We no longer leaders in teacher pay and benefits. Quality teachers are no longer interested in coming to Alaska, and with the cost of living so high, quality teachers are forced out of the state.
141.10/27/2008 11:12:00 PMLack of education on behavior plans for SpEd
142.10/27/2008 11:32:00 PMParent lack of involvement
143.10/28/2008 1:47:00 AMWhat are the students to be taught, when will it be taught, how will it be known if they got it and is help available if they don't
144.10/28/2008 2:46:00 AMThere is no accountability and special education program in extremely poor shape
145.10/28/2008 3:10:00 AMtoo many&quot;plans&quot; without teacher options to just teach
146.10/28/2008 3:14:00 AMdevelopmental delays
147.10/28/2008 3:37:00 AMLack of quality preschools (both 3 year old and 4 year old) programs within the public education system with instruction provided by certified early childhood teachers.
148.10/28/2008 5:29:00 AMSpecial Education kids being left behind
149.10/28/2008 7:24:00 AMPARENT INVOLVEMENT/ACCOUNTABILITY!!!
150.10/28/2008 7:27:00 AMDismatling racism in school system and increasing Alaska Native languages and cultures being taught ongoingingly
151.10/28/2008 9:06:00 AMSpEd-Need MUCH more teaching &amp; LESS data taking time
152.10/28/2008 1:30:00 PMrelevance
153.10/28/2008 3:33:00 PMI taught gifted for 30 years; gifted has been eliminated at KPBSD high schools
154.10/28/2008 4:22:00 PMgiving students opportunities to experience the world outside the village even outside AK
155.10/28/2008 4:57:00 PMthe immersion program in my school isn't 100% supported by district office
156.10/28/2008 4:58:00 PMParental disconnect/accountability
157.10/28/2008 4:59:00 PMTeacher Pay and benefits
158.10/28/2008 5:00:00 PMHighly qualified teachers and Evaluation tools
159.10/28/2008 5:01:00 PMNo Child Left Behind and meeting AYP.
160.10/28/2008 5:33:00 PMVery limited funding for early childhood options
161.10/28/2008 5:42:00 PMfoundation fundmentals-english, history and mathematics
162.10/28/2008 5:59:00 PMunderstanding diversity
163.10/28/2008 6:12:00 PMEverything except for class size
164.10/28/2008 6:15:00 PMparental responsibility for student achievment
165.10/28/2008 6:37:00 PMEducational Leadership (#1 Challenge)
166.10/28/2008 6:50:00 PMtoo much breadth with too little depth...we have to teach them more than they can learn and retain within a school year
167.10/28/2008 7:11:00 PMpressure imposed by testing and dealing with the failure of tests reflected in student's feelings of failure in life
168.10/28/2008 7:17:00 PMparent involvement
169.10/28/2008 7:42:00 PMPrinciple - Teacher - accountabilty attitude
170.10/28/2008 8:39:00 PMinadequate state regulations for student attendance, inadequate state regulations for homeschooling programs, no state mandate requiring Kindergarten
171.10/28/2008 8:44:00 PMequal access in rural areas to adequate schooling/education and school faciluities. There needs to be sufficient funding to bring rural schools up to the level of urban schools. Things cost more and are more difficult in the bush.
172.10/28/2008 9:01:00 PMStudent engagement
173.10/28/2008 9:50:00 PMinability to attract and retain quality educators
174.10/29/2008 12:24:00 AMlow number of native educators
175.10/29/2008 12:24:00 AMWe need teachers who care about the kids and quit passing them just because it helps their numbers.
176.10/29/2008 1:03:00 AMability to provide local culture in curriculum
177.10/29/2008 1:54:00 AMWhat i refer to as &quot;small school syndrome&quot; were rural-ness can really affect motivation and results.
178.10/29/2008 2:06:00 AMequitable testing for native, non-English proficient and low-socioeconomic students. Little support and GREAT penalties when those populations do not pass state tests and therefore affect AYP.
179.10/29/2008 4:41:00 AMHSGQE is too low to be considered a graduation qualifying exam
180.10/29/2008 7:33:00 AMDomestic and Family Violence/Drugs/Alcohol Need to Integrate Life Skills that Help children in families with these problems succeed so they can rise above this. They will not learn it at home, especially if everyone is fighting and abusing alcohol and drugs. Help these kids. They are smart. They are worth investing in to reduce their chance of becoming LOST and can be productive members of our society
181.10/29/2008 4:48:00 PMEducation for Alaska Native &amp; Low-Income Students
182.10/29/2008 5:03:00 PMteachers are doing their best on trying to not pass Alaska Native Students. So they also can go to college. Teachers do what ever it takes to make sure that Alaksa Native Students don't have the chance to attend.
183.10/29/2008 5:32:00 PMteacher recruitment and retention
184.10/29/2008 5:33:00 PMTrade skills
185.10/29/2008 5:53:00 PMToo focused on the head at the expense of what makes us human...limited art, music, etc.
186.10/29/2008 6:48:00 PMTrouble following special education laws
187.10/29/2008 6:55:00 PMRural students not academically prepared for higher education.
188.10/29/2008 8:02:00 PMShared vision with community and esp. PARENTS - also home life
189.10/29/2008 8:40:00 PMweak judicial and family court systems
190.10/29/2008 9:13:00 PMracism
191.10/29/2008 9:21:00 PMAttitude toward students
192.10/29/2008 9:38:00 PMparental Involvement
193.10/29/2008 9:40:00 PMParent involvement/cooperation for student achievement
194.10/29/2008 9:41:00 PMGetting community to &quot;buy in&quot; to value of education
195.10/29/2008 9:42:00 PMStandards vs Assessments
196.10/29/2008 9:41:00 PMTime to get everything taught
197.10/29/2008 9:43:00 PMLack of support from families before kids enter school. They come to school VERY unprepared to learn.
198.10/29/2008 9:44:00 PMAll of above are challenges, but making schools Community schools again, a safe place all day and evening, is most important.
199.10/29/2008 9:44:00 PMconsistent adequate annual funding for libraries
200.10/29/2008 9:47:00 PMAppropriate parental involvement
201.10/29/2008 9:47:00 PMBreakdown of family values/relationships
202.10/29/2008 9:49:00 PMenough materials -- computers, books, etc
203.10/29/2008 9:50:00 PMFinding genuine, caring, teachers at secondary ed level
204.10/29/2008 9:50:00 PMQualified applicants
205.10/29/2008 9:53:00 PMRetaining and recruiting teachers on Tier III and IV systems
206.10/29/2008 9:56:00 PMlack of parental involvement
207.10/29/2008 9:58:00 PMdiscrepancies among schools in urban and rural areas
208.10/29/2008 9:58:00 PMlack of publicly funded preschool for most students, too much money going to helping underachievers meet NCLB and not enough going to above-average and gifted students
209.10/29/2008 9:59:00 PMparental support and involvement
210.10/29/2008 10:04:00 PMFailng Sped students by addressing standards rather than needs
211.10/29/2008 10:05:00 PMMulticultural Education of teachers
212.10/29/2008 10:07:00 PMEnabling parents and absentee parents
213.10/29/2008 10:07:00 PMTeachers aren't held accountable
214.10/29/2008 10:08:00 PMStudent expectations/behavior/discipline
215.10/29/2008 10:09:00 PMLack of truancy laws and enforcement of those laws
216.10/29/2008 10:11:00 PMSpecial Education
217.10/29/2008 10:11:00 PMAdequately paying teachers: enough to attract and keep good ones.
218.10/29/2008 10:11:00 PMA teacher's retirement system that brings people to Alaska
219.10/29/2008 10:13:00 PMPublic perception about school performance/teacher excellence
220.10/29/2008 10:16:00 PMlack of coordination between programs (bilingual, Indian Ed, Title One, etc.)
221.10/29/2008 10:16:00 PMpublic perception of what public education actually is; ie diversity of students, increase in special ed. students and inability of admin. to enforce logical consequences of student behavior
222.10/29/2008 10:16:00 PMCertified Special Ed. Teachers
223.10/29/2008 10:18:00 PMlimited pre-k options
224.10/29/2008 10:21:00 PMPrograms to meet intensive special needs statewide
225.10/29/2008 10:22:00 PMrespect for teaching profession
226.10/29/2008 10:26:00 PMNo Child Left Behind
227.10/29/2008 10:31:00 PMby discipline, I mean the discipline to work hard, attend daily and follow instructions for an active learning exerience.
228.10/29/2008 10:32:00 PMParents allowed to be rude and ugly to school staff
229.10/29/2008 10:38:00 PMeliminating the use of tests for data
230.10/29/2008 10:38:00 PMfamily support and involvement in student learning
231.10/29/2008 10:39:00 PMSome schools are in great shape, others are not.
232.10/29/2008 10:40:00 PMparents do not impress on their children the importance of education
233.10/29/2008 10:44:00 PMEnough teachers, especially SpEd teachers
234.10/29/2008 10:45:00 PMactivation of a scientificlly (cost effective) proven method of instruction for reading and writing
235.10/29/2008 10:53:00 PMgiving students a hopeful vision for their future
236.10/29/2008 10:53:00 PMExcellent school staff
237.10/29/2008 10:59:00 PMmore vocational opportunities are needed in high school
238.10/29/2008 11:12:00 PMLack of parent support for education in rural areas
239.10/29/2008 11:13:00 PMparental/family involvement
240.10/29/2008 11:14:00 PMgetting parents involved in their childs education it is a joint effort.
241.10/29/2008 11:22:00 PMfamily support/invovlement in education and learning
242.10/29/2008 11:44:00 PMLack of Parent Involvement
243.10/29/2008 11:50:00 PMParent to School Connections
244.10/30/2008 12:17:00 AMParent connectedness
245.10/30/2008 12:21:00 AMThere is not enough help for children with special needs. I have an asperger child and the school setting is not working for him AT ALL!!!
246.10/30/2008 12:36:00 AMcompetent teachers who know how to connect with students
247.10/30/2008 12:47:00 AMLow student motivation
248.10/30/2008 12:54:00 AMDisfunctional communities
249.10/30/2008 12:56:00 AMLack of SPED. Lot of funds spent People employed, but no program for dyslexia
250.10/30/2008 1:08:00 AMPrograms to prepare students for work, college and life - in rural areas only.
251.10/30/2008 1:20:00 AMGetting help for kids who need it but don't fit into a special box
252.10/30/2008 1:26:00 AMdiversity of learners
253.10/30/2008 1:27:00 AMinflux of people to anchorage and not being prepared
254.10/30/2008 1:31:00 AMneed for forward funding, schools need to know what they have to spend for planning purposes
255.10/30/2008 2:10:00 AMLack of parental interest
256.10/30/2008 2:32:00 AMSchool expectations fall only on the teachers - who have little or no executive power. Families are more liability than support in many areas. School is too lax, unlike in Europe and Japan. Money is not the problem; class size, discipline, and districts which are too large, with too many layers of administrators, and administration, are. At least in Anchorage.
257.10/30/2008 2:37:00 AMNeeds more kinds.
258.10/30/2008 3:17:00 AMParents not interested or supportive of education/sports are more important
259.10/30/2008 3:39:00 AMParents have no benchmarks to indicate what the student progress actually is measuring.
260.10/30/2008 3:47:00 AMschool district not allowing parental involvement
261.10/30/2008 4:13:00 AMalmost all of these are challenges
262.10/30/2008 5:33:00 AMParental support (including child welfare)
263.10/30/2008 5:38:00 AMcommunity lack of value/respect for teachers and education.
264.10/30/2008 5:57:00 AMcultural barriers
265.10/30/2008 6:12:00 AMSupporting ESL students and allowing them to demonstrate their achievements and knowledge for future employers, etc.
266.10/30/2008 6:23:00 AMThe lack of interest in parent involvement and the size and management of the Anchorage School District. Not to mention the poor nutritional value of the school meals.
267.10/30/2008 4:09:00 PMToo many charter programs- we need money in the traditional schools. A public school system cannot give a school for every individual.
268.10/30/2008 4:52:00 PMThat there isn't a measurement of student success that reflects actual learning
269.10/30/2008 5:03:00 PMlack of parent invovlement and support, student apathy
270.10/30/2008 5:08:00 PMNo Tudors
271.10/30/2008 5:09:00 PMEvery aspect of our education system is a challenge
272.10/30/2008 5:10:00 PMneed much more vocational education
273.10/30/2008 5:17:00 PMParental involvment in child's education
274.10/30/2008 5:18:00 PM100% proficiency is not reality! Every individual does not learn at the same rate, does not share the same interests, and is not motivated by the same instructional method, information, etc. Everyone does not have the same learning potential and therefore should not be deemed a failure on the basis of one test over the years.
275.10/30/2008 5:28:00 PMParents who are not engaged in student's education
276.10/30/2008 5:40:00 PMcurrent programs seem to prepare students for collage only. Personal finance and vocational skills seems to have disappeared. Not every student is college bound.
277.10/30/2008 5:42:00 PMGED should count as graduation success
278.10/30/2008 6:11:00 PMadministrators not in touch with real life classrooms
279.10/30/2008 6:28:00 PMFinding a way to get parents to support their children's academic achievement.
280.10/30/2008 6:30:00 PMTraining is available for the technology in classrooms, but NOT enough computers and technology equipment are available in classrooms or schools to enhance learning that standards are requiring.
281.10/30/2008 6:31:00 PMparental involvement
282.10/30/2008 6:44:00 PMeducating students for realistic survival after high school
283.10/30/2008 6:52:00 PMparents
284.10/30/2008 7:09:00 PMSimplifying the IEP process
285.10/30/2008 7:18:00 PMTeacher support for meeting student needs
286.10/30/2008 7:31:00 PMteaching COOPERATION, COMMUNITY VALUES, LOVE
287.10/30/2008 7:38:00 PMSchool causes too much stress on most students leading to a complicated school life.
288.10/30/2008 8:12:00 PMPeople available (i.e. substitutes)
289.10/30/2008 8:40:00 PMlunch
290.10/30/2008 9:14:00 PMParents' ability to become involved in their child's lessons
291.10/30/2008 9:21:00 PMParent involvement
292.10/30/2008 9:31:00 PMNo student accountability-- parents feel free to &quot;bail out&quot; their student
293.10/30/2008 10:01:00 PMOptions that allow highly gifted individuals to learn at their level.
294.10/30/2008 10:04:00 PMMy perspective from within a school is that Teachers at my inner city school work too hard. I'm not sure what they need but, It is the strength of their character that makes education work.
295.10/30/2008 10:08:00 PMneed for more vocational programs
296.10/30/2008 10:21:00 PMInstruction - need a way to get rid of teachers that aren't TEACHING!
297.10/30/2008 10:45:00 PMlack of parental support (bad Parents)
298.10/30/2008 10:50:00 PMNeed more Voc Ed in our schools
299.10/30/2008 11:18:00 PMNot enough financial support for alternative education options
300.10/30/2008 11:38:00 PMparent concerned about student's achievement-attendance
301.10/30/2008 11:42:00 PMNo expectations at the elementary and middle school level- no credits, kids not ready to move to the next grade but are anyways. Parental involvement-ones who are not crazy.
302.10/31/2008 12:10:00 AMDisengaged racist classroom teachers and support staff
303.10/31/2008 12:16:00 AMNeed more teachers less administration, teacher experts, etc.
304.10/31/2008 12:21:00 AM1) NCLB is ruining education 2) Mandates are not fully funded 3) Lack of staffing for special education supports needed
305.10/31/2008 12:57:00 AMSpecial ed options
306.10/31/2008 1:03:00 AMnclb is unrealistic
307.10/31/2008 3:06:00 AMilliteracy
308.10/31/2008 4:53:00 AMAGE DEADLINE for preschoolers going into grade K!! Rather than a deadline, students should be accepted by first come first serve in age GROUP and not specific deadline! Not, children should not be turned away for being TOO YOUNG! Especially if its just 3 days passed the deadline! Its ridiculous!
309.10/31/2008 7:50:00 AMNCLB dictating what is acceptable in our curriculum and the teaching profession
310.10/31/2008 2:52:00 PMUnions
311.10/31/2008 4:26:00 PMThe greatest challenge is to limit the spending in extreme rural areas. It is simply not economically viable to continue to support (at the level we are) schools with limited clientelle. And to control the spending in the urban areas on new facilities that are not needed (at least to the extent they are built)
312.10/31/2008 4:44:00 PMWork with the rural villages and seek out their needs it's a whole different learning style.
313.10/31/2008 5:28:00 PMEquity of resources - neighborhood to neighborhood, community to community, etc.
314.10/31/2008 7:15:00 PMlack of parental support with low socioeconomic status
315.10/31/2008 7:25:00 PMCulturally revelant materials in culturally diverse community
316.10/31/2008 7:39:00 PMQualified teachers in the classrooms
317.10/31/2008 8:15:00 PMMaking sure our rigorous standards fit the diverse needs of our students and communities
318.10/31/2008 9:17:00 PMProviding quality education in the rural districts.
319.10/31/2008 10:19:00 PMequity between urban and rural opportunities
320.10/31/2008 11:25:00 PMlocal run boards as decision makers
321.11/1/2008 12:28:00 AMequite among regions
322.11/1/2008 2:22:00 AMDisruptive students take away from teaching, and too many students means less quality education for all grades and less teacher retention due to job stress.
323.11/1/2008 2:31:00 AMIn small schools not enough funding for more class electives
324.11/1/2008 4:19:00 AMremuneration for teachers
325.11/1/2008 4:19:00 AMparent support of educational system
326.11/1/2008 11:07:00 AMLack of sufficiently trained teachers
327.11/1/2008 2:59:00 PMMath and writing instruction that prepares students for college. Supporting &amp; preparing rural students to live more independently away from their community and family. Project-based learning may prepare them to work more independently to complete academic assignments at a standard that will allow them greater successin college. A high school counselor who advises fewer students through his/her high school years may provide greater preparation for choosing the right post-secondary schools that provide ongoing support for students from rural areas.
328.11/1/2008 8:40:00 PMLack of discipline when some students enter school.Lack of parent involvement.
329.11/1/2008 10:43:00 PMstatewide coordination of the four core subject areas
330.11/2/2008 5:17:00 PMteacher retention
331.11/3/2008 12:58:00 AMRural economies are weak and forcing students to cities.
332.11/3/2008 1:07:00 AMResources to meet student needs who are below proficient.
333.11/3/2008 2:31:00 AMMeeting the needs of students who don't have positive role models
334.11/3/2008 4:46:00 AMfederal money for special ed mandates
335.11/3/2008 5:11:00 AMculturally appropriate connections for ak native
336.11/3/2008 5:13:00 AMnarrowness of education - no full spectrum eduction through experience, filed trips or hands on loss of music, art, history and languages in addition to solid core subjects
337.11/3/2008 5:23:00 PMentrusting my children to a system with many unsafe situations - curriculums that are contrary to how we raise our children, violence and lack of morality and relying on standards to teach our children
338.11/3/2008 6:03:00 PMlack of concern for student sucess from staff/teachers
339.11/3/2008 6:21:00 PMRemoving the liberal agenda from classrooms
340.11/3/2008 7:02:00 PMteachers' roll and expectations of students
341.11/3/2008 7:53:00 PMAlaska need more team building programs
342.11/3/2008 8:09:00 PMfamily involvement especially OCS &amp; the foster care system
343.11/3/2008 8:26:00 PMdrop out rates
344.11/3/2008 9:49:00 PMWe without question need more vocational training options. Also more Alaska Native men in education as role models (as both teachers and administrators) for our highest risk students. The sense of hopelessness that our Alaska Native boys feel should be of extreme concern to all. I have seen few education administrators who even care to get this.
345.11/3/2008 9:53:00 PMchoices
346.11/3/2008 9:56:00 PMIncrease classroom teacher specific resources and responsibilitiy i.e. less top down
347.11/3/2008 10:11:00 PMFAS-Students issues
348.11/3/2008 10:23:00 PMsped
349.11/4/2008 7:46:00 PMNeed vocational education for those not on the academic track.
350.11/4/2008 11:36:00 PMTeachers being over paid, under worked, and just plain lazy.
351.11/4/2008 11:51:00 PMlack of parent involvement in child's behavior/education
352.11/5/2008 6:31:00 AMlack of training for spec. ed. tchr. asst.
353.11/5/2008 11:54:00 PMuse of appriopriate standards
354.11/6/2008 5:02:00 PMCurriculum that meets global standards
355.11/6/2008 5:50:00 PMThere doesn't seem to be a real understanding of (or willingness to address) the differences in needs of rural schools as opposed to those on the road system or in larger cities.
356.11/6/2008 5:59:00 PMavailability of state-funded early childhood education
357.11/7/2008 11:41:00 PMPreschool/PreKindergarten programs (or lack of appropriate programs)
358.11/8/2008 6:27:00 PMParental support and responsibility for their child and their education and behavior
359.11/9/2008 2:07:00 AMacknowledging parents as primary educators; communication
360.11/9/2008 8:15:00 AMneed to start engaging students to excel themselves
361.11/10/2008 4:12:00 PM#1 Attendance
362.11/10/2008 7:15:00 PMTransition rates in lower income areas
363.11/11/2008 11:12:00 AMlow expecctations and forgetting you are there for students
364.11/11/2008 3:36:00 PMparent involvement/values
365.11/11/2008 4:58:00 PMLack of more optional/alternative programs
366.11/11/2008 5:48:00 PMnone
367.11/11/2008 6:52:00 PMlack of student motivation
368.11/12/2008 12:04:00 AMIncrease model programs like Project GRAD in Kenai
369.11/12/2008 6:16:00 PMLack of qualified teachers
370.11/12/2008 11:03:00 PMThe teaching of critical thinking skills
371.11/13/2008 3:54:00 AMcredits earned by students do not always refelct mastery
372.11/13/2008 5:50:00 AMEvery child left behind is a disgrace - rise up and reject it as a group
373.11/13/2008 8:14:00 AMhigh turnover rates &amp; children/families not valuing education
374.11/17/2008 3:49:00 PMDo away with U.A.F, its a kinder college for idiots.
375.11/18/2008 4:51:00 AMHigh achieving/ gifted students being &quot;left behind&quot;
376.11/18/2008 8:46:00 PMdo away with NCLB
377.11/19/2008 8:02:00 PMPublicly supported preschool for 3, 4, and 5 year olds.
378.11/20/2008 4:00:00 AMConnection between home and school
379.11/21/2008 3:08:00 AMRetaining teachers
380.11/21/2008 5:46:00 PMDisconnect between what educators are doing and what parents and community knows about.