Only if you want to graduate from college
There has been a lot of liberal educator commentary of late about the SAT (and the ACT) college entrance test being an inaccurate measure of college success. Some elite (and liberal-dominated) colleges around the country have discarded use of college entrance tests altogether. The standard story is that high school grade point averages are a much better predictor of college success.
Now, in a New York Times article certain to give liberal educators a good case of indigestion, Peter Salins, former provost of the multi-campus State University of New York, reports on research that says those liberal educators are blowing smoke.
Salins uses a different approach to gauge the value of the SAT by examining how well it relates to graduation success in New York colleges that increased SAT requirements versus those campuses that kept the original, lower SAT admissions requirements.
Salins’ finding – SAT scores are indeed important predictors of success in graduating from college – better than high school GPA.
Fortunately, no-one at the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education is talking about downplaying the role of the ACT in our admissions process, but a number of liberal education people in this state have taken some swipes at the ACT, anyway.
It’s being reported that high school grades in Kentucky have been inflated. The reason is to make students appear more attractive to colleges and to jimmy more KEES scholarship money out of the taxpayer. That grade inflating trend makes the ACT even more important, and it makes it most unlikely that a Salins-style study in the Bluegrass State would turn up anything different from what happened in New York.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Why Kentucky might do well to axe income tax
Rep. Bill Farmer (R-Lexington) announced his plan to repeal the state income tax and replace it by eliminating sales tax exclusions and expanding the sales tax to include services. Farmer spoke today as a guest on the Leland Conway Show.
A new 50-state report suggests one way Kentucky's economy could really benefit: by attracting more entrepreneurs. The Information Technology & Innovation Foundation found Kentucky is the 4th fastest-growing state in the category of entrepreneurial activity. Freeing income from taxation could incentivize more activity in an area which Kentucky shows some life.
The study, which purports to rank states according to their ability to transition to a technology-based economy. Overall, Kentucky ranks 45th in 2008, down from 39th in 1999.
A new 50-state report suggests one way Kentucky's economy could really benefit: by attracting more entrepreneurs. The Information Technology & Innovation Foundation found Kentucky is the 4th fastest-growing state in the category of entrepreneurial activity. Freeing income from taxation could incentivize more activity in an area which Kentucky shows some life.
The study, which purports to rank states according to their ability to transition to a technology-based economy. Overall, Kentucky ranks 45th in 2008, down from 39th in 1999.
Ready to stop the merry-go-round?
Relief over sharply falling consumer prices in October may be short-lived as industries continue to demand taxpayer-financed "price stability."
One of many overpriced items is big government. As more cities consider bankruptcy, the calls for a federal government bailout of cities and states get louder.
WHAS interviewed University of Louisville economist Paul Coomes and asked him if the proposed auto industry bailout would make a difference. He said doing so would only delay them from renegotiating union contracts.
Same goes for Kentucky. Before Gov. Steve Beshear goes to Washington D.C. for a federal bailout or to the General Assembly for one from Kentucky taxpayers, we need to renegotiate our union contracts. That means repealing prevailing wage and making Kentucky a right to work state.
One of many overpriced items is big government. As more cities consider bankruptcy, the calls for a federal government bailout of cities and states get louder.
WHAS interviewed University of Louisville economist Paul Coomes and asked him if the proposed auto industry bailout would make a difference. He said doing so would only delay them from renegotiating union contracts.
Same goes for Kentucky. Before Gov. Steve Beshear goes to Washington D.C. for a federal bailout or to the General Assembly for one from Kentucky taxpayers, we need to renegotiate our union contracts. That means repealing prevailing wage and making Kentucky a right to work state.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
CATS Perspectives on Accuracy and Usability
Here is a PowerPoint presentation that shows the inflation in our CATS assessments compared to the National Assessment of Educational Progress and the new tests from the ACT, Incorporated that all our 8th and 10th graders now take.
This was presented today to the “2014 Committee,” an alternate “education task force” which has been formed to look at how we can make intelligent changes to our assessment program that will improve student learning.
This was presented today to the “2014 Committee,” an alternate “education task force” which has been formed to look at how we can make intelligent changes to our assessment program that will improve student learning.
Who is being prohibited from doing what?
The Legislative Research Commission (LRC) posts General Assembly bills on its web site and provides summaries of them so readers can better follow state government. It usually does a very good job.
But the importance of word choice can be critical to the meaning in a bill summary. And sometimes the wrong word can lead to confusion about what a new law would do.
Take, for instance, this description of HB 46, pre-filed for the 2009 session:
A reader depending on the bill summary above may be led to believe that what is being prohibited is the use of a communications device (cell phone or pager) on a motor vehicle that is not almost an antique. The problem is the word "that," which isn't usually used to refer to a person.
Therefore a minor on a moped may find himself, if this bill were passed, subject to a fine for talking while riding even though he thought he was in the clear by virtue of operating, say, a twenty year-old vehicle.
In addition to the imprecise language, there are several elements of the proposed law that are missing from the LRC's bill summary. Youthful drivers in the state might be better served by reading the following instead from KentuckyVotes.org:
KentuckyVotes is a free service provided by the Bluegrass Institute.
But the importance of word choice can be critical to the meaning in a bill summary. And sometimes the wrong word can lead to confusion about what a new law would do.
Take, for instance, this description of HB 46, pre-filed for the 2009 session:
A reader depending on the bill summary above may be led to believe that what is being prohibited is the use of a communications device (cell phone or pager) on a motor vehicle that is not almost an antique. The problem is the word "that," which isn't usually used to refer to a person.
Therefore a minor on a moped may find himself, if this bill were passed, subject to a fine for talking while riding even though he thought he was in the clear by virtue of operating, say, a twenty year-old vehicle.
In addition to the imprecise language, there are several elements of the proposed law that are missing from the LRC's bill summary. Youthful drivers in the state might be better served by reading the following instead from KentuckyVotes.org:
KentuckyVotes is a free service provided by the Bluegrass Institute.
Time to toss the union albatross
University of Kentucky economist Ken Troske nailed it in the Lexington Herald Leader today when talking about the proposed auto bailout:
The "promises" he mentions are the outlandish union contracts that have played a major role in bringing the domestic automakers down.
And as Kentucky politicians mull how to get their own federal bailout, they should turn their attention instead to repealing prevailing wage laws that make school construction projects too expensive.
"But the long-term situation is completely different, he said."
"A bankruptcy would allow them to “break promises they made in the past," Troske said. "That's clearly going to hurt workers ... but they've got to get out of those promises.""
The "promises" he mentions are the outlandish union contracts that have played a major role in bringing the domestic automakers down.
And as Kentucky politicians mull how to get their own federal bailout, they should turn their attention instead to repealing prevailing wage laws that make school construction projects too expensive.
Monday, November 17, 2008
Before the bailouts, transparency
Starting to look like 2009 will be the year of the bailout. Sure, we broke the seal in 2008, but next year is certain to be a gusher.
President Bush will leave $350 billion of the magic $700 billion to President-elect Obama. And the cities and states are arranging Washington D.C. junkets to parade their empty pockets and last year's clothes in front of Congress.
Fully two months before taking office, Obama has already shed any pretense of fiscal conservatism.
Kentucky taxpayers has long-endured the boom-and-bust cycles in government spending. The tail end of this latest one is already awash in red ink.
We know there will be much clamoring for tax increases in Frankfort, but they just don't have the votes.
The watchdogs must be ever vigilant, of course, lest the good old boys and girls work out some kind of deal to produce more photo ops and talk of bipartisan love for themselves, and higher costs for the rest of us.
The key to protecting ourselves is to push hard for every state agency, county, city, library, and school board in Kentucky to document the spending of every single penny on searchable web sites for all to see. The time for fooling around waiting for current technology to be applied to the protection of those of paying the bills is over.
President Bush will leave $350 billion of the magic $700 billion to President-elect Obama. And the cities and states are arranging Washington D.C. junkets to parade their empty pockets and last year's clothes in front of Congress.
Fully two months before taking office, Obama has already shed any pretense of fiscal conservatism.
Kentucky taxpayers has long-endured the boom-and-bust cycles in government spending. The tail end of this latest one is already awash in red ink.
We know there will be much clamoring for tax increases in Frankfort, but they just don't have the votes.
The watchdogs must be ever vigilant, of course, lest the good old boys and girls work out some kind of deal to produce more photo ops and talk of bipartisan love for themselves, and higher costs for the rest of us.
The key to protecting ourselves is to push hard for every state agency, county, city, library, and school board in Kentucky to document the spending of every single penny on searchable web sites for all to see. The time for fooling around waiting for current technology to be applied to the protection of those of paying the bills is over.
CATS Deficiencies – More and More Legislators Get It
The Bluegrass Institute – from its earliest days – has sharply criticized Kentucky’s CATS school assessments and their underlying standards. While CATS has been telling Kentucky that our school system is doing just fine, more trustworthy evidence shows otherwise.
Now, with mediocre test results piling up, especially for Kentucky’s racial minorities, it looks like more and more legislators on both sides of the aisle are starting to ‘get it.’
This was particularly evident during today’s (November 17, 2008) meeting of the Interim Joint Committee on Education. The Kentucky Department of Education presented the latest results from CATS and No Child Left Behind, and legislators were quick to cite unsatisfactory performance gaps for whites and other racial groups, which persist today despite nearly 19 years of education reform.
The bad news triggered the following comments about general flaws in CATS from Representative Derrick Graham of Frankfort. Said Graham about a primary need to revise the underlying standards and curriculum driving CATS,
“Number one is when we talk to our universities and our colleges and our technical people that we get their input as to say what is it that you all want our kids – where do you want the kids to be by the time they graduate from high school? We need to get their input in terms of development of a curriculum, not that’s based on the CATS testing and evaluation of the CATS testing, but is based upon preparing these kids for the next level. And, I don’t think we’ve done that.”
Right on, Representative Graham. The high proportion of college freshmen who need remedial courses makes it abundantly clear that the CATS isn’t related to what kids need next. But, it needs to be.
As legislators in the meeting reacted in dismay to more data in the department’s report, including results from ACT testing that show very few kids are on track to be ready for college, sentiment certainly seems to be growing that after all the time we’ve been doing reform, making few if any changes in CATS for another six years simply isn’t going to pass muster.
Now, with mediocre test results piling up, especially for Kentucky’s racial minorities, it looks like more and more legislators on both sides of the aisle are starting to ‘get it.’
This was particularly evident during today’s (November 17, 2008) meeting of the Interim Joint Committee on Education. The Kentucky Department of Education presented the latest results from CATS and No Child Left Behind, and legislators were quick to cite unsatisfactory performance gaps for whites and other racial groups, which persist today despite nearly 19 years of education reform.
The bad news triggered the following comments about general flaws in CATS from Representative Derrick Graham of Frankfort. Said Graham about a primary need to revise the underlying standards and curriculum driving CATS,
“Number one is when we talk to our universities and our colleges and our technical people that we get their input as to say what is it that you all want our kids – where do you want the kids to be by the time they graduate from high school? We need to get their input in terms of development of a curriculum, not that’s based on the CATS testing and evaluation of the CATS testing, but is based upon preparing these kids for the next level. And, I don’t think we’ve done that.”
Right on, Representative Graham. The high proportion of college freshmen who need remedial courses makes it abundantly clear that the CATS isn’t related to what kids need next. But, it needs to be.
As legislators in the meeting reacted in dismay to more data in the department’s report, including results from ACT testing that show very few kids are on track to be ready for college, sentiment certainly seems to be growing that after all the time we’ve been doing reform, making few if any changes in CATS for another six years simply isn’t going to pass muster.
Ohio think tank: charter schools save us money
Kentucky's House Education Committee has killed every effort to open up charter schools in Kentucky.
Ohio, meanwhile, has charter schools and has found that teachers union efforts to close them would require taxes to go up or spending per student to go down because charter schools are more efficient with their money than the regular public schools are.
Kentucky probably will have a charter school bill in the 2009 General Assembly. Let's hope the legislature pays attention to Ohio's findings.
Ohio, meanwhile, has charter schools and has found that teachers union efforts to close them would require taxes to go up or spending per student to go down because charter schools are more efficient with their money than the regular public schools are.
Kentucky probably will have a charter school bill in the 2009 General Assembly. Let's hope the legislature pays attention to Ohio's findings.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Courier Journal political team falls hard
The Louisville Courier Journal dispatched three Frankfort reporters to take the temperature of the state Senate on what seems to be the paper's last big idea:
This dual purpose (cutting smoking and raising revenue) is pretty silly as far as empty promises go. But the hilarious part is the leap the reporters took from the tepid response they got to the conclusion they drew:
The "substantial" support includes twenty Senators who said they would either vote for, consider, or not rule out a cigarette tax increase.
In other words, there is insufficient support in the Senate for a cigarette tax increase.
My favorite part of the article came when Sen. Tom Buford told the reporters he could potentially support a tax increase of up to $3 a pack.
Though it would be nice if the Republican Senators explained that they oppose cigarette tax increases because they don't support terrorism, I'm sure they had a good time putting on a team of harried reporters.
"Health advocates are gearing up to persuade lawmakers of the need to approve a hike of at least 70 cents to discourage smoking, particularly among youths, and also to bring in desperately needed revenue."
This dual purpose (cutting smoking and raising revenue) is pretty silly as far as empty promises go. But the hilarious part is the leap the reporters took from the tepid response they got to the conclusion they drew:
"But a Courier-Journal survey found substantial support for an increase to offset a potentially huge budget shortfall that would force more cuts in state agencies already slashed in the 2008 budget."
The "substantial" support includes twenty Senators who said they would either vote for, consider, or not rule out a cigarette tax increase.
In other words, there is insufficient support in the Senate for a cigarette tax increase.
My favorite part of the article came when Sen. Tom Buford told the reporters he could potentially support a tax increase of up to $3 a pack.
Though it would be nice if the Republican Senators explained that they oppose cigarette tax increases because they don't support terrorism, I'm sure they had a good time putting on a team of harried reporters.
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Where is GM's burden of proof?
As Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear is cajoling Congress to write blank taxpayer checks to the auto industry, troubling questions mount about how good an idea that is.
The Wall Street Journal reports:
Granted, that is a statement from an anonymous source, but I haven't seen anything that leads me to believe GM does have a Plan B. They should have to explain all their contingency plans to us.
The Wall Street Journal reports:
""There is no Plan B being discussed beyond a government bailout," one top GM adviser said Friday."
Granted, that is a statement from an anonymous source, but I haven't seen anything that leads me to believe GM does have a Plan B. They should have to explain all their contingency plans to us.
Could Illinois sneezing give Kentucky a cold?
Years of overspending on social services are catching up to taxpayers in Illinois just as Kentucky gears up for a pep rally on Tuesday to sign people up for government healthcare faster and, potentially, fraudulently.
So with all this talk about economic Armageddon, is anyone the least bit concerned about what might happen if Illinois is forced to cut back on social services just as neighboring Kentucky is flashing a neon "Come and Get It!" sign?
So with all this talk about economic Armageddon, is anyone the least bit concerned about what might happen if Illinois is forced to cut back on social services just as neighboring Kentucky is flashing a neon "Come and Get It!" sign?
Friday, November 14, 2008
Just a friendly reminder
As Frankfort continues to look for ways to cut spending, some of our elected representatives might do well to be reminded that they had a chance to shut down the Treasurer's office.
Maybe they could put him to work sweeping floors or something.
Maybe they could put him to work sweeping floors or something.
Tracking Students Is One Thing – But Tracking Your Entire Household?
What is the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) really tracking? We have written before such as here and here about the teething problems with the KDE’s new student tracking system – at least we thought it was a STUDENT tracking system.
Now, a news report hints that the KDE’s new “Infinite Campus” computer database system may be something more – a household tracking system!
Why is the department of education setting up a system that tracks students not as individuals, but only as members of households? Does the department of education have legitimate reasons to track anything organized by households?
Certainly, the Times Tribune article raises lots more questions than answers about a computerized tracking system so involved that some educators say it’s “scary” just to implement the thing. Could there be even more to be scared of than anyone in the public knows?
Now, a news report hints that the KDE’s new “Infinite Campus” computer database system may be something more – a household tracking system!
Why is the department of education setting up a system that tracks students not as individuals, but only as members of households? Does the department of education have legitimate reasons to track anything organized by households?
Certainly, the Times Tribune article raises lots more questions than answers about a computerized tracking system so involved that some educators say it’s “scary” just to implement the thing. Could there be even more to be scared of than anyone in the public knows?
Beshear Admin: Efficiency Study "proceeding"
The Beshear Administration tells me now that they are proceeding with the Efficiency Study.
Good.
They are currently sorting through 3600 efficiency suggestions from employees solicited when Gov. Steve Beshear took office almost a year ago. I was asked to report on efforts to reduce the number of employees and the promised government spending web site, which I did one and five months ago, respectively.
Also learned the Beshear Administration has roughly 460 fewer non-merit employees than the Fletcher Administration had. Certainly a step in the right direction.
And Gov. Beshear says more cuts are on the way.
Good.
They are currently sorting through 3600 efficiency suggestions from employees solicited when Gov. Steve Beshear took office almost a year ago. I was asked to report on efforts to reduce the number of employees and the promised government spending web site, which I did one and five months ago, respectively.
Also learned the Beshear Administration has roughly 460 fewer non-merit employees than the Fletcher Administration had. Certainly a step in the right direction.
And Gov. Beshear says more cuts are on the way.
What to do with Beshear's tax increases
In his weekly column, the Bluegrass Institute's always-edgy Jim Waters chases Gov. Steve Beshear's latest big idea up a tree:
Jim concludes that eliminating prevailing wage and corporate welfare would be far better solutions than merely raising taxes again. Good stuff.
"While campaigning for office, Gov. Steve Beshear promised to consider tax increases “only as a last resort.”"
"Yet, Beshear now plans to waste costly fuel traveling around the state to try and soften opposition toward raising taxes and manipulating the hardworking residents of Kentucky into approving the distasteful idea of expanding casino gambling.
“As a last resort” means after exhausting all other options."
"However, the governor offers no suggestions for meaningful reform of the state workers’ pension system. So far, Kentucky’s “tax-islature” has avoided tough, cost saving choices, including addressing elements of the pension system that line their pockets."
Jim concludes that eliminating prevailing wage and corporate welfare would be far better solutions than merely raising taxes again. Good stuff.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Where does it say that in the Constitution?
Gov. Steve Beshear's Chief of Staff Adam Edelen made an odd statement today in favor of a proposed bailout of three domestic auto manufacturers.
Really? What about the other four million of us? Do we rate top priority without working for or running businesses that fail? And how specifically does the Governor know that making those 80,000 his top priority for an unspecified amount of time is the best thing for them in the long run? Or is that even the goal? Why or why not?
Several unanswered questions remain for those who usually claim to have a lot of answers.
Edelen told WHAS' Mark Hebert: "What the Governor has expressed to our Congressional delegation is that it is our top priority to protect the 80,000 people in Kentucky who are employed in automobile manufacturing or related industries."
Really? What about the other four million of us? Do we rate top priority without working for or running businesses that fail? And how specifically does the Governor know that making those 80,000 his top priority for an unspecified amount of time is the best thing for them in the long run? Or is that even the goal? Why or why not?
Several unanswered questions remain for those who usually claim to have a lot of answers.
Private sector groups try to do a "Kentucky"
Over the last quarter of a century, Kentucky has underfunded its public employee benefits plans to the point that they have nearly a $30 billion liability that will hit taxpayers hard.
Now some private organizations that have also mismanaged their defined benefit pension plans are petitioning Congress to allow them to put taxpayers on the hook for their actions.
We opened this door when we started the bailout binge. Someone is going to have to stop it. Any volunteers?
Now some private organizations that have also mismanaged their defined benefit pension plans are petitioning Congress to allow them to put taxpayers on the hook for their actions.
We opened this door when we started the bailout binge. Someone is going to have to stop it. Any volunteers?
"I find your lack of faith disturbing"
Aren't you at least a little surprised Gov. Steve Beshear hasn't had a press conference to take credit for gas prices coming down recently? After all, he probably doubled his carbon footprint with his heated gas price rhetoric this summer.
In this new season of government delusions of market manipulation grandeur, it might be a good idea to start seriously questioning the power we grant our politicians in hopes they will smooth out all the rough edges of our lives.
Their track record on this front doesn't exactly inspire confidence.
In this new season of government delusions of market manipulation grandeur, it might be a good idea to start seriously questioning the power we grant our politicians in hopes they will smooth out all the rough edges of our lives.
Their track record on this front doesn't exactly inspire confidence.
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