REALITY: They're rigor, relevance, and relationships.
In his 2007 State of the State address, Governor Pawlenty cited the remarks of Bill Gates:
"'... our high schools — even when they're working exactly as designed — cannot teach our kids what they need to know today. Training the workforce of tomorrow with the high schools of today is like trying to teach kids about computers on a 50-year-old mainframe. It's the wrong tool for the times.' Close quote."
Governor Pawlenty went on to describe his pay for performance plan for Minnesota high schools based on an adapted version of Bill Gates' 3R framework:
Governor Pawlenty
Let's make Minnesota the number on state in the nation for reforming high schools by creating "3R" high schools. The three Rs here stand for rigor, relevance, and results.
My budget next week will include $75 million in funding to encourage high schools to become "3R" schools. This is also a pay for performance deal. They will be required to to a lot. First:
(1) 3R schools will be required to implement rigorous and relevant courses for all students, including career and technical courses in high-demand fields.
(2) 3R schools must provide access for all students to programs that provide college credit opportunities.
(3) In 3R schools, every student, every student, must complete a full year of college while in high school.
(4) And in 3R schools they must provide opportunities for students to pursue work-based learning and internships.
The 3R framework Governor Pawlenty proposed is different from that described by Bill Gates:
- The first R is Rigor – making sure all students are given a challenging curriculum that prepares them for college or work;
- The second R is Relevance – making sure kids have courses and projects that clearly relate to their lives and their goals;
- The third R is Relationships – making sure kids have a number of adults who know them, look out for them, and push them to achieve.
The three R’s are almost always easier to promote in smaller high schools. The smaller size gives teachers and staff the chance to create an environment where students achieve at a higher level and rarely fall through the cracks. Students in smaller schools are more motivated, have higher attendance rates, feel safer, and graduate and attend college in higher numbers.
Certainly Governor Pawlenty is free to adapt frameworks to suit his policy position, but he should be forthright by publically acknowledging when he does so.
Sources
January 17, 2007 - 2007 State of the State, Office of the Governor.
February 2005 - Prepared remarks by Bill Gates, co-chair, National Education Summit on High Schools.
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