Issue Position: Education

Issue Position

Holistic Approach Current attempts to correct inadequacies in our state's approach to K-12 education are failing for several reasons. There are no comprehensive approaches to improving our K-12 system being presented by our elected officials. Instead solutions are being presented that deal with the symptoms of our failing school districts, rather than underlying causes of why school districts fail. The proposal to eliminate the Kansas City, Mo. School district and segment the district to surrounding suburbs is the most telling of these attempts. What is needed is comprehensive school reform that incorporates issues that relate to early childhood education programs, poverty and economic development in low-income areas of our communities, hunger, and lack of sufficient public transportation systems.

Charter Schools Charter schools have a place in the future of education of Missouri's youth. However, the lack of oversight and accountability that are currently employed in these institutions can lead to institutions that do not adequately address educational needs. Proper oversight and accountability measures need to be implemented for Charter schools to become a meaningful piece of our state's educational horizon.

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