By Nelson Hernandez
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, April 28, 2008

A new report endorsed by the Prince George's County school superintendent and other education leaders describes federal education policy as "inconsistent and shortsighted" and proposes school improvement measures that would cost $29 billion.

The Forum for Education and Democracy, a think tank based in Ohio, released the report last week to mark the 25th anniversary of the publication of "A Nation at Risk: The Imperative for Educational Reform." That federal study launched an era of efforts to improve public schools.

The new report, "Democracy at Risk: The Need for a New Federal Policy in Education," seeks to jump-start a similar movement. It warns that U.S. students, particularly those who are poor, black or Hispanic, have fallen behind those of other nations in reading, science, math and problem-solving skills.

Solutions, the report says, include equalizing spending on schools in wealthy and poor areas, bolstering teacher training and pay, supporting research and working harder to engage communities. As it unveiled the report in Washington, the think tank was joined by Prince George's Superintendent John E. Deasy; Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.), chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee; and Peter McWalters, commissioner of Rhode Island schools.

Deasy said the report "lays out a clarion call for a new federal role in education." If nothing is done, he said, "we're going to condemn whole groups of youth to a substandard practice."

It is unclear where the $29 billion would be found. That amount is nearly half the U.S. Education Department's annual discretionary spending of $59.2 billion.