Improving Our Schools
In the last year, we have made incredible progress on laying the foundation for improving academic performance at our schools. This progress was recently recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Along with 18 other states, Arizona was named as a finalist in the second round of the Race to the Top competition as one of the top education reform states. Arizona's Race to the Top plan is our roadmap for education reform whether or not we get the federal monies.
Arizona’s education reform plan focuses on three key areas.
- Implementing of tougher academic standards and testing tied to those standards. Under my leadership and the leadership of the State Board of Education and Superintendent of Public Instruction, Arizona adopted more rigorous standards in late June 2010. These standards represent a significant improvement over Arizona’s current standards and were developed by governors and other education leaders from the best standards across the nation through the “common core” program. In conjunction with the new standards, the State of Arizona will be developing a new test to replace the current AIMS test in the 2014-15 school year along with other states. The new tests will focus on academic achievement throughout the school year and not just one big test at the end of the year.
- Improving the quality of information parents receive about their schools to help them to make more informed decisions. This past year with the passage of SB 1286, we took an important step by changing the way schools are labeled. We eliminated the “fuzzy labels” of “Performing and Performing Plus” and changed them to “A,B,C,D, and F”. In addition, Arizona will be restricting so-called “social” promotion for third-graders who cannot really read at grade-level. We are taking action to end that practice.
- Rewarding good teachers and principals through our new evaluation systems. We need to reward our best teachers and principals. Pursuant to a new law I signed (SB 1040) last May, the State Board of Education will be developing teacher and principal evaluations that include student achievement. Between 33% and 50% of a teacher’s evaluation will be based on student achievement.
Arizona and other states have the reputation of setting ambitious educational goals and then faltering in their execution when the hard decisions have to be made (e.g., AIMS test). During a second term in office, my mission will be to ensure implementation of these reforms.
Changes to School Funding Formula
We need to move to a system that rewards academic achievement and not just seat time. Our current system assumes a student will sit in a desk for a certain number of minutes a day, and never leave the school. Families now want choices and results and we need a funding system that is more flexible and responsive to those demands. As part of this funding reform, we need to make sure that more money is spent on academic pursuits and not outside the classroom.
English Language Learners
We must teach non-English speaking children as quickly as possible. We need children spending time on task learning English. Learning English is the key not just to their success in America, but to be globally competitive.
And we are having success. Preliminary data from the Department of Education indicates that the rate of reclassification of English language learners as English proficient has more than doubled.
More broadly, Arizona’s English Language Learner models are a reflection of the restrictive nature of the ballot measure prohibiting bi-lingual education and the underlying statute. The ELL Task Force should be commended for working to develop rigorous models and adhering to the intent of the law and the will of the voters. The law allows for alternative models, of which the Task Force has adopted some. We should allow school districts and charters flexibility to the extent they can create alternatives that meet the statutory demands.
Improving Low-Performing Schools
We have identified our persistently lowest-achieving schools and are working to increase the number of effective teachers and leaders in those schools. If all else fails, the children in those schools need to move to schools in which they will have access to effective teachers and leaders. Every child regardless of where they live should have an effective teacher and strong school leadership. Research confirms what every dad and mom already knew – that a great teacher is what makes the difference.
We have made incredible progress on laying the foundation for improving our schools through the passage of key legislation as well as policy proposals made in our Race to the Top application. Of course, this application is based on the premise of the receipt of $250 million in federal dollars. If this were not to happen, my P-20 Council will review the application to prioritize what items the state can implement given current resources. Arizona's RTTT application is our roadmap for education reform whether or not we get the federal monies.
As Governor, I have also encouraged greater participation by Teach for America (TFA) in our state by investing $4 million in state and federal funds. Working with Arizona State University, TFA has doubled its number of teachers over the past five years to 320 in the 2009-10 school year. I am also very supportive of the Rodel Exemplary Teacher and Exemplary Principal programs.
One area I want to focus on in my second term as Governor is to more fully realize the original vision of the school choice movement in Arizona -- increasing educational opportunities for children who are not achieving. We need to encourage more innovative traditional district, charter and private schools to help these kids reach their full educational potential. I want to involve the business community in this effort. While this may or may not require some additional legislation, I do believe it is more a matter of leadership.
Support for Private School Vouchers
I support vouchers because I believe it is the right of parents to educate their children in a traditional district school, charter school, private school or home school.
The state tax credit for contributions to private school tuition student scholarships has achieved much of the same purpose as vouchers. I supported the reforms made to these laws made this year to increase transparency and accountability.
One particular focus of any voucher program should be for those children in failing schools.
