Who Controls Public Education?

Did anyone else happen to read the Times magazine article on November 14, 2011 by Jon Schnur titled “Who Will Control Your Child’s Education?”  (Okay, so I’m a little behind around the date of the article, that doesn’t mean it still isn’t important to me as a parent now that I’ve had a chance to read the article. LOL)

As we head into the second half of the school year and try to catch up on all of our New Year’s resolutions, back to school schedules after the holiday break and new calendar year business plans, it is a very important question not only to ask but also to answer!

We are seeing it in DE in a variety of avenues as public education becomes a state and local strategy:  Race-to-the-Top, Common Core State Standards, testing assessments, teacher performances, principal evaluations, data collection & analysis, budget allocation processes, etc.

From the article,  Jon states:

States are working together …     … This collaboration is pooling expertise while avoiding duplicating efforts. It provides crucial state-level leadership for an America where education is a state and local responsibility, but a national priority.

All of this means that America’s future will depend more than ever on your state superintendent, state board of education, legislators and governor. As parents and members of the public, what should we know — and what can we ask of our state leaders to truly lead?

His next 4 points are ones we can look at together with a focus on DE:

1.)    Find out the names of your State Superintendent of education and the state board members.

a.       Write letters to them advocating your views. (In a small state like DE, this is a little easier, but you still have to pay attention.  The panel discussion at the recent DE-PTA Convention was a great opportunity to hear from not only the Governor and the State Superintendent but also the President of the State Board and 2 legislators.  Just wish more parents had taken advantage of the chance to hear and meet them first-hand!)

2.)    Ask for higher expectations for ALL students

a.       Know what the vision is for your school district’s RttT funding – each district has the “flexibility” to develop their own plans according to their own unique challenges & each district got a different amount of money. What did your district do with their money and what are their goals over the remaining 3 years?

b.      Demand timeliness of information and transparency of information – I hate “educational jargon” that does nothing for me as a parent.Where is the common sense and the accountability to me and my children as the stakeholders?

c.       Use the DE-PTA training on CCSS to make sure the implementation of better academic assessments are happening in our schools & classrooms.  The CCSS at least gives me a "checklist" of items that I can compare directly with the type of school work I see my children tackling year-to-year and month-to-month.

3.)    Ask for smart, measurable goals for improved student outcomes

a.       This has to include a national comparison of state-wide testing in conjunction with the implementation of CCSS and a continued focus on realistically closing the Achievement Gap here in DE

b.      Sorry – but DCAS does nothing for me as a parent except get my blood boiling when I think of the wasted effort & resources going into this process, not to mention the millions of dollars going to AIR!!!!  Parents need to have a "seat at the table" when this testing process goes through a NEEDED upgrade and quickly.

4.)    Ask your state (and district) how it will help local schools retain excellent teachers and principals

a.       We need to know as parents that good teachers are being supported and the bad teachers are finding their way out of the system and not being covered up by “playing the testing game”.  We as parents need to see real results in our children and their love of learning in multiple forms.

b.      We need to know that DE has 21^st century leaders in our principals who are looking out for all students, developing a visionary, learning environment and inspiring students, staff, administrators & teachers to reach higher than yesterday (and not principals who are just paper pushers or local puppets)

So it might seem like a lot to do, but they are definable, measurable actions each of us as a parent, guardian and/or employer, manager, etc. in the state can take to make things happen in education.  It takes ACTION; Specific STEPS; And us as parents, using available resources like our established PTA network(s), working together in big efforts and small efforts, to make our public education worthy of 21^st century solutions.

Who controls the public education?  We do as informed and involved parents!