Former Governor James B. Hunt Jr. of North Carolina believes that current state leaders have much to learn about improving schools. In order to address this, Mr. Hunt has established the James B. Hunt Jr. Institute for Educational Leadership and Policy. The institute aims to educate the next generation of education governors on how to successfully implement large-scale school improvement agendas. This is timely due to the new federal requirements outlined in the "No Child Left Behind" Act of 2001, as well as the upcoming availability of 36 governorships next year.
The institute launched in February with a summit in Durham, N.C., where U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige and four of his predecessors were present. However, it gained substantial momentum last week when Mr. Hunt announced that Judith A. Rizzo, a high-ranking official from the largest school district in the country, will be its first director. Rizzo, who has served as the deputy chancellor of instruction for the New York City public schools, will begin her role next month.
Supported by $2 million from various foundations, the institute is located at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. It aims to do more than just provide information; it plans to support policymakers in diagnosing the needs of their states and devising strategies to address these needs. Although they will draw on the work of other education groups and conduct their own research, the focus will be on providing direct assistance. The institute envisions collaborating with teams of business, political, and education leaders from each state, with a particular emphasis on the top elected officials.
According to Rizzo, the governors often lack crucial knowledge and are left out of the loop. The passage of the federal legislation has necessitated changes in education policies across all states. The new law requires teachers to be "highly qualified," mandates annual testing for students in grades 3-8, and calls for state intervention in underperforming schools. Organizers of the institute highlight that North Carolina is already ahead of many states in implementing these changes. Under Mr. Hunt’s leadership as governor, the state had already introduced initiatives to raise teacher standards, increase teacher pay, expand early-childhood education, and ensure greater accountability in schools.
While Gary Huggins of the Education Leaders Council commends the institute’s mission, he hopes that it will consider policy options beyond those supported by national education groups. Mr. Hunt has been involved in organizations such as the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards and the National Commission on Teaching & America’s Future, both of which advocate for higher standards in the teaching profession. However, some members of the Education Leaders Council question the effectiveness of national board certification, suggesting that reforms should also focus on increasing options for parents and promoting charter schools.
