Assessment in education
I would propose a testing schedule with a pretest 1-2 days during the first 2 weeks of the school year and a post test 1-2 days during the last month of school. The test would focus on the grade level curriculum for students. A lower level test may be devised for students who have been tested below grade level in the prior year. The objective items would be scored within a two weeks and shared with the school and the teachers. Schools would be strongly encouraged(required) to share the results with parents along with a description of what is to be done to improve the student’s skills through the year. At the end of the school year, a second test would be done and scored. The pre and post test differences would be calculated and averaged for class, school, and district. They would be published as evidence of the effectiveness of the programs in improving student scores over the school year. We could expect reaction to be similar to the current AYP but all shareholders could focus directly on the quality of instruction without the distraction of student background. I believe it would clearly establish this administration in the national educational arena and provide an alternative to the federal approach. The diagnostic prescriptive applications would encourage local schools and staff to view testing as a support.

Social security credit for child rearing
Topic: Social security reform
In following the controversy about social security privatization, I would like further insights and research about the effects of leaving the labor force temporarily for child rearing. An EPI guide on social security noted that women tend to have lower lifetime earnings resulting in a lower average benefit[Guide, p. 20]. This is due to both lower earnings and fewer years of employment because of time out of the labor force. Generally, I am interested in research concerning benefit levels and years of employment. Specifically one could assess the impact of such absences(males or females)on the average benefits of retirees. The SSA offers benefit survey data from the SSA for 84 and 92. However, the surveys are dated and there is limited methodological definition for the data. Are there other data sources such as those used in the Guide that would give a more detailed picture. The benefit levels based on employment will be difficult to assess since many of those with limited work history will apply under the spouse's earnings. It would be desirable to develop a proposal to credit up to 10 years of extrapolated earnings for time taken from the labor force for child rearing.