The Common Core State Standards should be our Sputnik when it comes to realizing that the federal government is increasing its role in education. What started as a group of state leaders and private organizations agreeing to standards soon morphed into a set of standards tied to federal incentives. History has shown us that where there are federal incentives, there are also federal controls and mandates that come with them. Common Core is not the first, nor will it be the last attempt by the federal Government to weigh in on education.
These controls impede progress. They create a culture of compliance. Federal initiatives often become programs that grow the number of adults in the system but not the performance of the students the system is designed to serve.
I will fight to protect the powers enumerated to our State by eliminating federal overreach in education.
Home Rule and Local Control
Our State leaders need to have a clear picture of what this federal overreach looks like. Testing requirements, teacher quality requirements, and other efforts seem well-intended and harmless. They are not. The federal government coerces funds from our citizens and then forces us to comply with mandates in order to get our money back. The kicker is that these mandates are unfunded or underfunded, with the State receiving pennies on the required dollar of educational services.
The State Superintendent of Education needs to play a proactive role when it comes to informing the South Carolina General Assembly and the Governor on the growing list of activities that are underway solely based on complying with federal requirements. The Superintendent should also communicate with the State’s congressional delegation what current mandates exist and the likely impact of federal laws being considered inside the beltway on our classrooms inside South Carolina.
The State is an equal culprit in trying to micromanage success. A bit of wisdom that I picked up over the years describes a good balance for the State. The State should set expectations and hold schools and districts accountable for meeting the expectations. The State should not micromanage how districts and schools go about meeting expectations. Where help is needed, the State should offer assistance to districts that cannot produce great outcomes. When schools perpetually underperform, the State should intervene aggressively on behalf of the children but have a clear exit strategy for getting the school back to local control as soon as possible.
It is time for the State to take inventory of all of the State laws and regulations that keep local leaders from running their schools effectively and responsively. The State needs to address educational governance; there are far too many boards, commissions, and committees trying to lead education in different directions.
Delegating to Parents and Local Leaders As Much As Possible
True local control should rest with parents. Our children will be best served when we give as much control to local leadership within our public schools. However, this needs to be combined with educational freedom for parents and students. Parents should be able to decide how and where their children are educated. Money should follow the child to the learning environment parents choose. I support traditional public schools as well as charter schools, virtual schools, single-gender, magnet schools, private schools, Montessori programs, dual-enrollment programs, apprenticeship opportunities, and homeschooling programs. We should empower parents and taxpayers with tax breaks such as tax credits or tax deductions for education. We should support scholarships, grants, vouchers, and any other reasonable funding mechanism that will allow parents to take their educational dollar where they see fit.
The combination of local control and real educational freedom will allow parents to make the best decisions for their children.
As your next Superintendent of Education, I will fight to protect the powers enumerated to South Carolina and eliminate federal overreach in education because education is an issue best addressed by the states, but particularly by parents, teachers, and local leadership.
These controls impede progress. They create a culture of compliance. Federal initiatives often become programs that grow the number of adults in the system but not the performance of the students the system is designed to serve.
I will fight to protect the powers enumerated to our State by eliminating federal overreach in education.
Home Rule and Local Control
Our State leaders need to have a clear picture of what this federal overreach looks like. Testing requirements, teacher quality requirements, and other efforts seem well-intended and harmless. They are not. The federal government coerces funds from our citizens and then forces us to comply with mandates in order to get our money back. The kicker is that these mandates are unfunded or underfunded, with the State receiving pennies on the required dollar of educational services.
The State Superintendent of Education needs to play a proactive role when it comes to informing the South Carolina General Assembly and the Governor on the growing list of activities that are underway solely based on complying with federal requirements. The Superintendent should also communicate with the State’s congressional delegation what current mandates exist and the likely impact of federal laws being considered inside the beltway on our classrooms inside South Carolina.
The State is an equal culprit in trying to micromanage success. A bit of wisdom that I picked up over the years describes a good balance for the State. The State should set expectations and hold schools and districts accountable for meeting the expectations. The State should not micromanage how districts and schools go about meeting expectations. Where help is needed, the State should offer assistance to districts that cannot produce great outcomes. When schools perpetually underperform, the State should intervene aggressively on behalf of the children but have a clear exit strategy for getting the school back to local control as soon as possible.
It is time for the State to take inventory of all of the State laws and regulations that keep local leaders from running their schools effectively and responsively. The State needs to address educational governance; there are far too many boards, commissions, and committees trying to lead education in different directions.
Delegating to Parents and Local Leaders As Much As Possible
True local control should rest with parents. Our children will be best served when we give as much control to local leadership within our public schools. However, this needs to be combined with educational freedom for parents and students. Parents should be able to decide how and where their children are educated. Money should follow the child to the learning environment parents choose. I support traditional public schools as well as charter schools, virtual schools, single-gender, magnet schools, private schools, Montessori programs, dual-enrollment programs, apprenticeship opportunities, and homeschooling programs. We should empower parents and taxpayers with tax breaks such as tax credits or tax deductions for education. We should support scholarships, grants, vouchers, and any other reasonable funding mechanism that will allow parents to take their educational dollar where they see fit.
The combination of local control and real educational freedom will allow parents to make the best decisions for their children.
As your next Superintendent of Education, I will fight to protect the powers enumerated to South Carolina and eliminate federal overreach in education because education is an issue best addressed by the states, but particularly by parents, teachers, and local leadership.
