With Apologies to the President and My 7th Grade English Teacher, Change We Can Learn In

Think the dysfunction of our public schools rests solely with the local school board? However poorly, board members are only playing the cards they are dealt by the legislature.

So, every legislator who complains about Little Rock has the power to do something about it.

In the last session, with the leadership of Representative Barry Hyde, we tried to 1) change the date of school elections to the primary; 2) empower the people, not incumbent school boards, to determine how they will be represented in zoned districts - five zones, seven zones, five zones and two at-large; and 3) provide for recall of school board members.

Nos. one and two were unanimously sent to interim study by the Education Committee, and No. 3 couldn't even get a hearing. By the way, it's the interim; where's the study?

If the legislature truly wants to provide excellent education for all students, it can pass and send to the governor for his signature these fifteen reforms:

1. Through individual portability of state per-pupil spending, empower total school choice (public, charter, private) among Pre K – 12 schools;
2.  Change date of school elections to general election;
3. After each census, a nonpartisan demographer shall redraw the zone map equalizing the populations, minimizing the splitting of neighborhoods and voting precincts, and using landmarks and census blocks to define zone boundaries;
4. Through local initiated act, people choose how they will be represented in zoned school districts – five zones, seven zones, five zones – two at-large;
5. Following redrawing of the zones, all board seats shall stand for election;
6. Directly elect school board presidents at-large, and in zoned districts, raise number of board positions to six, eight and six and two-at large, respectively;
7. Provide for recall of school board members;
8. If student is not grade-level proficient in math and literacy by the end of third grade, he/she will attend summer school. If still not proficient, will repeat grade;
9. Require everyone under 18 to be in school, graduate or receive GED; if over 18, require high school graduation or GED to receive public assistance;
10. Strengthen truancy officer/court system to ensure all eligible students are in school;
11. Like other economic development incentives, reform state-sponsored scholarships to performance-based – 50% at enrollment, 50% upon passing grades at semester;
12.  Graduating schools share with colleges and universities 50% of cost of first-year post secondary remediation;
13. Equalize opportunity to join or quit a public service union;
14.  Require public service unions to collect own dues; and
15. Prohibit school districts from paying salaries of employees not performing contracted services for district.

Or not. And not. And not.