Iveson's Issues: Education
Early Childhood
A significant portion of brain development occurs in a child's earliest years, and that is our best chance to build life-long learning. Currently, 25% of Missouri's children are not ready when they arrive at kindergarten. In addition to the risk of school failure for each of these children, they add to the burdens already on struggling public education systems. If we cannot improve early childhood education we will never get our money's worth out of K-12.
K-12 Education
Public schools are the State's most important asset. Our children deserve a good education, and the economic health of the State depends on an educated workforce. Over time, we have placed increasing demands upon our public education system. Once intended to "sort" students, our schools are now expected to achieve 100% success so that students can compete in the 21st century economy. Yet, we have not "retooled" our educational system to meet this change. We need to take a hard look at how we are doing things and at how much investment is required to achieve the results we desire, and we must do it now.
Vouchers
I am opposed to vouchers because they divert funds from solving the real problem — inadequate funding for public schools. Vouchers have not proven effective in providing meaningful choice for low- and middle-income families. And, they undermine the historic role of public education as "glue" in neighborhoods and communities.
Charter Schools
The jury is still out on charter schools. Recent data seem to suggest that student outcomes are no different in charter schools than they are in public schools. However, these schools MAY provide a chance to try different approaches and bring valuable lessons back to the public school system. I do not see them replacing any significant part of the system.
NLCB/Standardized Testing
School systems must be accountable to parents and students and standardized testing has a part to play in that process. However, the current emphasis on testing as the only measure of success goes too far. We also need to consider progress made and obstacles overcome. And the federal government must provide adequate funding to achieve the goals it sets.
Teacher Salaries
Our teachers are among the most important members of our workforce and should be compensated accordingly. Missouri currently ranks 44th in teacher salaries. School funding must provide enough money to pay salaries that will attract the best teachers, who in turn will be able to provide our children with the quality education we expect and they deserve.
School Funding Formula
Our old school funding formula was not fair; though it did improve equity between school districts during the 1990's, Missouri still fell behind other states when looking at equitable distribution. It also failed to pass the adequacy test as it was never fully funded. Our new formula, passed in 2005, decreased the amount of state funding coming to Columbia Public Schools. Statewide, that formula may be more equitable: it is too early to tell. What is certain is that the new formula still fails the adequacy test. Author Jonathan Kozol likes to point out that no one questions whether more money can buy quality when they opt to send their children to private schools.
University Funding
Missouri — providing less funding to support our public universities than most other states — now ranks 49th in spending on higher education over the last five years. Our public universities should be our primary driver of economic development. Business today needs highly educated employees and the research support a world class university provides. And, while the current administration is happy to provide tax breaks to special interest groups, they don't seem to recognize that the 20% increase in tuition is a tax increase for middle class parents trying to send their children to college.
Diversity Of Thought Movement
I'm all for diversity of thought, but I will never vote for a law that requires biology professors to teach intelligent design.
[Go back to Cande's Issues page]
|
