With hundreds of proposed bills hitting the legislative floorand hundreds of agencies and individuals who seek opportunity to benefit financially from the work of our public schools, DOE must have a values-based filter for assessing ideas, initiatives, legislation, and vendors/products.
Core Values / Priorities:
1). Is it good for students?
- Will it foster better outcomes for all?
- Is it equitable?
- What might the unintended consequences be?
- How will this promote the well-being of students?
2) Does it honor the expertise in the Field?We are disinclined to support proposals that:
- Supplant the professional judgment, creativity, technical expertise of educators, school leaders, and/or district leaders.
- Devalue the decision-making of local communities and school boards.
- Are incompatible with the best interests of school communities.
- Are unnecessary.
3) Will engagement with this product or initiative represent responsible stewardship?
- Is the likely outcome proportional with respect to the cost and/or effort?
- Who supports, funds, and provides lobbying for this proposed initiative/product/entity (and what are their motivations)?
- Hidden pitfalls? (Advertising based on denigrating schools? Predatory sales practices? Disproportionate burden on socioeconomically disadvantaged populations? Marketing practices that perpetuate the myth of “failing public schools”?)