Legislative Priorities?

http://freedomisthesolution.blogspot.com/2007/11/let-my-people-go.html

“The unbridled creativity and compassion of our nation’s teachers can solve many of the problems those in poverty face. Their skill and determination should not be corralled by the bureaucracy and petty turf wars built into our current system. It is no wonder why so many teachers burn out so quickly. These teachers should be able to open schools in a competitive marketplace where good school programs succeed and bad programs fail.”

­My Thoughts: Teachers Unions are a voice against change. In Columbia today we see the School District’s list of legislative priorities as follows, and my notes on how they should be changed to reflect the needs of students instead of the views of a lobbying group:

1. SUPPORT FOUNDATION FORMULA FUNDING TO ENSURE APPROPRIATE RESOURCES FOR ALL DISTRICTS TO MEET STATE ACCREDITATION STANDARDS AND NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND (NCLB) STANDARDS.

Implement accountability measures to ensure that resources are being used to meet state accreditation standards and all waste is cut out so those resources reach the student.

2. SUPPORT FUNDING AS PROMISED FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION.

Support choice for special education parents so they can match their child with the most appropriate school.

3. COLUMBIA PUBLIC SCHOOLS BELIEVES THAT FUNDING THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT AND THE MOST COMPLICATED ISSUE FACING STATE LEADERSHIP AND LOCAL EDUCATORS TODAY.

Columbia Public Schools believe that educating students is the most important and complicated issue facing state leadership and local educators today.

4. SUPPORT MANDATORY ATTENDANCE UNTIL 18 YEARS OF AGE.

Support Charter Schools that specialize for students struggling to succeed and stay in mainstream public schools.

5. SUPPORT LEGISLATION FOR A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT THAT INCREASES THE BONDING LIMIT FROM 15 PERCENT TO 20 PERCENT.

Ensure that taxpayer dollars already spent are being allocated wisely before issuing another bond. Show taxpayers where waste has been cut, and how any increase in funding will be used to give all students a quality education.

6. SUPPORT LOCAL DISTRICT’S GROWTH MODEL PLANS AND ACCOUNTABILITY PROCESSES AS THE STATE EVALUATION TOOL.

I think that one makes sense as is.

7. COLUMBIA PUBLIC SCHOOLS BELIEVES THAT MISSOURI’S EDUCATIONAL GOALS CAN BEST BE ACHIEVED WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF A GOVERNANCE SYSTEM IN WHICH ELECTED COMMUNITY REPRESENTATIVES HAVE FINAL AUTHORITY OVER POLICIES AND PRACTICES DIRECTLY AFFECTING TEACHING AND LEARNING.

Transition from believing that statement to proving it.

8. COLUMBIA PUBLIC SCHOOLS SUPPORTS LEGISLATION THAT WILL DEFINE THE PARAMETERS BY WHICH EMPLOYEES MAY COLLECTIVELY BARGAIN.

Support teachers who improve student progress through merit pay, and cease the one-size-fits-all pay for both effective and ineffective teaching practices.

9. COLUMBIA PUBLIC SCHOOLS SUPPORTS LEGISLATION THAT WILL PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH ACCESS TO STATE-OF-THE-ART SCHOOLS.

Support students’ access to quality education, even non-public, state-of-the-art schools.

10. SUPPORT RESTORATION OF FUNDING FOR ADVANCED PLACEMENT TESTS.

Root out fiscal irresponsibility on a local level and find funding for advanced placement tests.

11. OPPOSE LEGISLATION THAT REQUIRES A MANDATORY SCHOOL START DATE.

Look into methods of student improvement that have worked for other school districts.

12. OPPOSE ANY LEGISLATION AUTHORIZING TUITION TAX CREDITS, TUITION TAX DEDUCTIONS, AND/OR VOUCHERS, SUCH AS THE INITIATIVES SUPPORTED BY THE “ALL CHILDREN MATTER” GROUP.

Consider open conversation with all groups attempting to improve public education as necessary to making productive legislation.

13. OPPOSE ANY LEGISLATION THAT PROVIDES FOR INTERDISTRICT CHOICE OR
OPEN ENROLLMENT.

See priority 9.