State on right path for kids, Kimbrell says

Education chief responds to A+ charter schools rally

— Education officials and activists argued Wednesday that Arkansas schools are improving, and said people should support the state’s education policies.

At a state Capitol news conference, Arkansas Department of Education Director Tom Kimbrell and others responded to Tuesday’s daylong A+ Arkansas rally, which featured former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, several Arkansas business leaders and supporters of charter schools.

Kimbrell said Arkansas education is on the right path and all types of education options need to be improved so all students succeed.

“Do we have work to do? You better believe it. Many of our reforms are there. Do we grow them incrementally? You bet. Can we get there? You bet,” he said.

Fannie Fields of Marvell, a parent involved with the Arkansas Opportunity to Learn Campaign, said she is worried about what would happen to students in traditional public schools if the state turns its focus to charter schools or other options.

“We know there are problems in our public schools and we have been working hard to address them. We have made great progress in improving public schools in Arkansas, but we don’t need the distraction like this that could threaten the viability of our schools,” she said.

Arkansas Association of Educational Administrators Executive Director Richard Abernathy said the state needs to focus on programs it knows works, such as giving districts flexibility, expanding after-school programs and career and technical education classes.

“Most of all we need to stay the course. We need our state leaders to focus on real reform for all children in the state of Arkansas and not just expand the bureaucracy,” Abernathy said.

Kimbrell said the department opposes legislation supported by A+ Arkansas, such as House Bill 1040 by Rep. Mark Biviano, R-Searcy, which would create a fivemember charter-school commission to review, authorize and monitor contracts of all public charter schools.

Currently the nine-member state Board of Education appointed by the governor has that authority.

Under Biviano’s bill, the governor, Senate president pro tempore, House speaker, chairman of the House Education Committee and chairman of the Senate Education Committee would appoint one member each to the commission.

The commission would be able to set high school graduation requirements and set rules determining funding for charter schools in excess of the amount received by traditional public schools.

The groups present Wednesday stressed that they support charter schools; they just oppose the oversight method proposed by Biviano.

Sen. Joyce Elliott, D-Little Rock, said she expects other legislation from A+ Arkansas, promoting vouchers and tax credits for educational expenses.

“There is a campaign out there that is well funded. But we can match them with ourcommitment and our work,” she said. “I’m not going to lie down for this campaign to roll over us.”

She urged the public to get involved in the issue.

“We need you for the long haul,” she said. “It will come and it will come, you just be ready to be here.”

A+ Arkansas includes several state business leaders including William Dillard III, vice president of Dillard’s Inc.; Walter E. Hussman Jr., publisher of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette and chief executive officer of WEHCO Media Co.; and Jim Walton, chairman and chief executive officer of Arvest Bank Group Inc. and a member of the Wal-Mart Stores Inc. board of directors.

Laurie Lee, executive director of Arkansas Reform Alliance, said after the news conference that Tuesday’s meeting was about coming up with ways to fix a problem.

“What is their offer except continuing the status quo? What is their solution to the challenges that face our children?” she said. “If we don’t start looking outside the box, if we don’t start looking to address the challenges in our state, we will continue to slide backwards.”

Arkansas, Pages 9 on 01/31/2013

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