November 01, 2014
Saturday PM

In a state where just 33 percent of eighth graders are proficient in math and 31 percent are proficient in reading according to national assessments, education is deserving of more attention in 2014 elections. Across the country, more parents are making informed decisions about their child’s education, but for Last Frontier State parents without resources, choices are difficult to come by in a system where a child’s education is largely determined by zip code. As Alaska voters head to the polls, it’s important they seek out candidates that share their views in putting student results first, regardless of party or politics.

Gov. Sean Parnell, running for reelection, strongly supports school choice vouchers, calling for them to entirely replace the state’s current education funding system, and asking for the proposal to be placed on the statewide ballot for approval. More recently, Parnell took his school choice advocacy a step further in saying that having an array of educational options honors the way students learn. He also has called for expanding and strengthening the state’s charter school program.

The Alaska Legislature, with Parnell’s backing, attached to his omnibus education reform bill a provision that increases the number of years in teaching required before tenure kicks in. It’s a small step towards real reform, but a step nonetheless.

Benefitting from the Democratic candidate’s withdrawal from the race and the formation of a partnership in opposition to the incumbent governor, challenger Bill Walker says the key to improving public education is “attracting and retaining the very best educators.” No mention of whether that includes merit pay and meaningful evaluations based upon student performance measured by valid assessments, though. Walker has stated opposition to school vouchers.

While educators and parents are doing inspiring things everyday at the classroom and community level to further student outcomes, reform and innovation in schools go only so far as the laws that govern them. The key to solving the nation’s education crisis is electing governors who understand that they have the power to change a system, and holding them accountable to do so. With 36 gubernatorial elections underway in 2014, we should all resolve to make education our top priority when we take to the polls in November.

It’s up to Alaska voters to spot the candidate who has a chance of enacting the types of state-level reforms that have been gaining traction in Juneau and have proven successful elsewhere across the nation, but have the potential to do much more in a state that has led the way in making true innovation possible. As families increasingly demand positive change at rallies and in their communities, now is the time to demand it at the ballot box.

Kara Kerwin
President of The Center for Education Reform
Washington, DC

Received October 30, 2014 - Published November 01, 2014

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