Extracted text

OCR Page 1 of 87
March 19, 1999 MEMORANDUM FOR HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON From: Shirley Sagawa, Neera Tanden Re: Shanker Education Speech As we discussed in our last issues meeting, we view the Shanker speech as an opportunity to lay out your vision on education. It will serve as one of the four major speeches you deliver over the next several months in which you discuss your views on your major domestic issues. This memo provides some preliminary ideas on a possible framework for your feedback. Any response you can give us will help direct the work we do on the speech while you are traveling. Our primary goal with this speech, in addition to honoring Al Shanker, is to lay out your vision to strengthen public education in a manner that recognizes your longstanding work on these issues. We recommend that with whatever framework you choose, you focus your remarks on how we as a nation can strengthen and reform our public schools. With this focus, you could then discuss your views of particular reform strategies, including those you have seen first hand in schools you have visited. Possible issues to discuss within any framework: Teacher quality High academic standards Curriculum improvements including a focus on math and science Accountability Parent involvement Charter schools and school choice 1 Class size Social promotion School construction Early childhood development You may want to consider a focus on a particular set of initiatives that are more directly connected to the quality of education children receive in the classroom, such as teacher quality, reduced class size, high academic standards and curriculum improvements. We recognize the topicality of a discussion of vouchers, both because of the verfue and current policy debates in New York City. We would suggest that you make a strong statement in opposition to vouchers as a reform strategy, but avoid a major focus on vouchers that may overshadow the rest of your speech. In this way, you could stress promising reforms that are restoring the public's faith in public schools.