Issue Position: Transforming Public Education

Issue Position

K-12 and higher education represents over half of the state budget. I am a parent with children attending public schools. I am a secondary math and science teacher with over 12 years experience in both traditional public and charter schools. I currently teach physics at Amphi HS in Tucson. I am an active leader in both my local and state professional organizations, most recently serving on the board of directors for the Arizona Education Association. I have the experience and expertise to be a leader in a meaningful transformation of Arizona's public education system.
1. Local Control

Particularly at the K-12 level, to much policy has been mandated by the State. While the State should outline broad objectives and set academic standards, local districts, colleges and universities need more flexibility to meet those objectives in ways best suited to their structure and the demographics of populations they serve.

2. Assessment and Accountability

Our state needs to have an honest discussion about assessment of academic performance. Our current model at the K-12 level, AIMS, has some significant flaws. The implementation of Common Core Standards and the PARC assessment may address some of those flaws, but provides an additional set of challenges.

Unfortunately through a combination of "No Child Left Behind" and the State's interpretation of that federal legislation, too much effort and resources have been diverted from focusing on actual gains in educational outcomes and instead been directed towards a numbers game around standardized test results. Schools and districts, particularly those serving economically distressed populations, need increased flexibility to meet the needs of their students and communities.

3. Public School Funding

Arizona is not currently meeting its obligations to public education. Money alone will not improve education. Yet no system can improve or maintain its quality of service if basic needs are not being met.

The public school finance system is too complicated. Over the past few decades, the legislature and the voters have enacted a multitude of measures to support public schools without addressing the base support level. This has lead to confusion and mistrust by the public, especially when school funding figures are spun to further political agendas. In an open and honest conversation about how Arizona can meet its constitutional obligation to provide for public education, no portions of the current system should be held sacred. However this can only be accomplished if all stakeholders can trust that everyone at the table is dedicated to the goal of great public schools.

4. Community Involvement

Ultimately, meaningful reform requires community involvement. Efforts to increase the competitiveness and effectiveness of educational organizations are best lead by the professionals within those organizations working with students, parents and community leaders. It is the State legislature's role to provide a framework for that to occur. It cannot simply mandate that it occur.

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