Apodaca: Key issues to look for in education

When it comes to education, a new year doesn’t necessarily mean much. School calendars straddle two years, and it’s unlikely that the midway point between the first day of school and the last will bring sudden or momentous changes.

Nevertheless, tradition dictates that at the dawn of a new year we should take stock of the past and look to the future. Who am I to mess with tradition?

So in the spirit of this hallowed custom, I offer a roundup of some key issues that education experts expect will loom large in the months and years ahead. It’s not a comprehensive list, but it should give a sense of priorities being set and the direction we’re currently headed, with a dose of hopefulness thrown in for good measure.

1. How do we best assess?

Many of us agree that we test too much, and the results carry consequences far outweighing the value. Indeed, we don’t fully understand how accurate a picture we’re getting despite attempts to design a reasonable and effective assessment system.

Since this time of year is meant to be one of optimism, I’d like to report that all our testing misery will soon be over. No such luck.

But some educators do see glimmers of hope that the controversy over testing is segueing into a constructive dialogue aimed at doing it better. Besides welcoming a transition to fewer assessments with more timely and meaningful results, many observers would like to see tests used less as excuses to point fingers and punish and more as tools for targeted, positive intervention and curriculum realignment.

On a related note, early this year Congress is expected to take up reauthorization of No Child Left Behind, the law that many blame for igniting the testing mania. That could result in more tinkering and expansion of the already numerous exceptions we’ve seen to school progress targets.

2. Addressing haves versus have-nots.

Inequality in education is a perennial issue and perhaps the toughest to solve since it involves so many intractable forces outside the classroom: poverty, societal divisions, crime, family struggles, etc. We can all agree that making sure every child has equal access to quality education and opportunities is of paramount importance. But how do we get there?

Again, we begin a new year with a smidgen of hope that educators and policy makers will focus their attention on what to do about schools in poor areas where resources are sparse and teachers are less experienced. Let’s hope that the heated political rhetoric that has dominated this problem gives way to practical solutions.

3. Increased efforts to align education with jobs.

This was one of the biggest stories in education in 2014, and it will continue to be so this year. From Silicon Valley to machine shop floors, calls are growing for schools to gear learning more toward real-world skills valued in the marketplace.

But rather than continuing to push all students toward college — still the best road to a prosperous future — some focus is shifting toward offering alternative learning opportunities that could also lead to successful careers, particularly in expected high-growth industries such as technology and healthcare. Look for some interesting ideas on this front in 2015.

4. Individualized approaches to rigorous common standards.

The controversial new Common Core State Standards are a good idea in theory. The standards, which are being implemented in most states including California this year, give schools a set of rigorous expectations to meet. Educators stand to benefit from the sharing of data and examples of effective practices aimed at reaching those goals.

Theory aside, the success of Common Core hinges on its implementation and the public’s tolerance for what could be a rocky few years. There’s already some pushback locally regarding some of the new standards-aligned curricula, particularly in math. I’m hearing of considerable stress and confusion among Newport-Mesa’s students, parents and teachers.

But where we might see the greatest successes is with instances in which individual schools, administrators and teachers take it upon themselves to experiment and try out creative ways to address their students’ particular needs. I’m thinking of programs along the lines of Adams Elementary’s proposed Modern Scholars Academy. From standardized goals will come individualized responses, and that’s another reason to hope.

6. Slowing runaway college costs.

This issue just keeps getting bigger, particularly as alarms are raised over scary levels of student loan debt. And nowhere is the debate more pointed than in California, where a staring contest continues between Gov. Jerry Brown and UC President Janet Napolitano.

The UC system has endured decades of eroding state support, and students have paid the price with dramatically higher tuition. Brown’s proposals include granting more three-year degrees, de-emphasizing research and boosting transfers from community colleges — but no more money.

Napolitano has called Brown’s bluff. If the state fails to increase funding, UC will implement a 28% tuition hike over five years. Whoever blinks first will tell us a lot about what the future will hold for college affordability.

7. Expanding access to pre-kindergarten programs.

I’m nearly out of space, so let me just note that this will be another key topic this year. The Obama administration’s new Preschool Development Grant program and other initiatives are among the responses to calls for prioritizing early education. More on this later.

Happy new year!

PATRICE APODACA is a former Newport-Mesa public school parent and former Los Angeles Times staff writer. She lives in Newport Beach.