Politicking on Education’s Back

Poor children will be the losers if hardball politics prevent major reform of Title I, the source of massive federal funding for high-poverty public schools. Prospects for reauthorization of the education act that contains Title I are dimming in the Senate because of a fight over gun control that has nothing to do with improving teachers or schools.

Killing the bill would not end funding for Title I, but without new legislation the money would continue to be spent on the same old ineffective programs, particularly teachers’ aides who often have no education credentials or training appropriate to instructing children.

Senate Democrats plan to add gun amendments to the education bill in time to impress the throngs expected in Washington Sunday for the Million Mom March, in support of gun control. The politicians are right about the policy but wrong on the timing and the legislative vehicle.

Democratic leaders argue that the gun amendments are germane because the education bill mandates safe schools. They note that, for instance, guns used in the Columbine shooting were bought at gun shows, which would see stiffer controls under the proposed amendments.

Yes, schools should be gun-free. Yes, the education bill encourages safe schools. But that’s not what this fight is about. This is payback from Democrats justifiably angry at the Republican inaction on the juvenile justice bill, which contains identical gun control provisions.

If the gun amendments are attached to the education bill, the Republican leadership is expected to shelve it. This would allow the continuing wholesale waste of federal education dollars on teachers’ aides who are more baby-sitter than instructor and other unproven programs that have failed to close the academic gap between affluent and poor students. Washington currently spends $8 billion annually on Title I programs for children from poor families, who undeniably need extra help in school. However, the spending ought to lead to significant and measurable progress.

The House has already approved a bipartisan reform of the federal education law that would toughen qualifications for teachers’ aides and impose accountability on schools that serve disadvantaged students. The Senate should not squander this opportunity to improve the education of poor children and, not incidentally, spend taxpayer money more effectively.