Excellence in Education
There is still work to be done to recover from pandemic-related learning loss. Reading and math proficiency scores are better, but they are still not where they should be.
-
- Promote early literacy using evidence-based methods and high-dosage tutoring programs
- Push for a thorough assessment of the math curriculum
- Broaden career and technical education (CTE) offerings to prepare students for employment
Support and Retain Teachers
The current shortage of teachers and support staff is threatening the quality of our children’s education.
-
- Advocate to state legislators to increase teacher pay to combat the rise in cost of living
- Expand Future Teachers Program to nurture young people to pursue teaching
- Recruit professionals from outside of public education to become teachers
Parental Empowerment
Parents are the best experts of their children’s learning and know how to bring out the best in them. Meanwhile, teachers can be important mentors to the children while at school.
-
- Support initiatives to improve parent/teacher communication and collaboration
- Create more volunteer opportunities for parents to provide help in school
- Take school board meetings on the road to make it easier for parents to voice their concerns directly
Curriculum Transparency
Parents have the fundamental right and moral obligation to direct the upbringing, education, and care of their children.
-
- Preserve the freedom of teachers to design curriculum in keeping with state standards
- Support parents’ right to know what their children are being taught
- Maintain parents’ final authority to opt out of material that they find objectionable.
Special Education Reform
The state’s special education funding has not been revised since 1993. Funding shortfalls and staffing shortages are undermining the children’s right to a free appropriate public education.
-
- Advocate to overhaul the funding formula to reflect current costs and increasing needs
- Strengthen support for teachers to prevent burnout
- Ensure timely and efficient IEP referral process
- Improve availability and reliability of special transportation
School Safety
Parents, teachers, and students all need to feel that their school is a safe place for learning. This includes a sense of physical safety and a sense of emotional well-being.
-
- Modernize aging facilities to provide a secure and comfortable for learning
- Improve school safety by installing effective security solutions and providing annual emergency response training for all school staff
- Ensure School Resource Officers receive comprehensive training in their role at school
- Review how schools address bullying and other misconduct, making sure disciplinary procedures are clearly communicated, fair to all parties, and effective in reducing future incidences