Missouri Education Commissioner Chris Nicastro has partnered with the Missouri Association of School Administrators and the Missouri Association of School Boards to move forward with a “bold” new initiative called the Vision for Missouri Public Education.
The Missouri Association of School Administrators has their 2009-2010 Legislative Platform available for all to see.
Here is what they oppose:
MASA opposes:
• Diverting state funds from the public schools by any means including tuition tax credits/vouchers;
• Mandating open enrollment of students;
• The erosion of public school funding to expand Charter schools;
• Mandating programs without appropriating the necessary funds to implement and sustain the programs; and
• Imposing property tax reductions, freezes or limits.
Correct me if I’m wrong, there is nothing “bold” about this. Once again, we cannot continue to do the same thing year after year and expect different results. Missouri can do better!
In a time when our education system is not working, the Commissioner partners with groups that want to continue with the status quo!
It is in our opinion at Missouri Education Watchdog that Republican lawmakers in Missouri cannot and should not support such an initiative. IF we are to have any chance at true education reform in Missouri, school choice is where we need to begin!
Many Republican lawmakers in our state receive a hefty portion of their campaign contributions from school choice organizations. Those organizations need to start to hold some of these politicians accountable for their decisions in Jefferson City! As we speak, Missouri is in the process of overhauling the current education system using millions of federal tax dollars to do so. Yet school choice is not even on the list. How many unfunded mandates are going to be placed on Missouri's public schools through these new initiatives?
These new initiatives were never voted on by taxpayers or the state legislature. We at Missouri Education Watchdog believe these mandates will result in higher taxes for Missouri families. All Missouri families deserve the right to choose which educational institution fits the needs of their child.
Again, I refer to the Vision for Missouri Public Education logo and ask myself "Why are we taking on this initiative?" More of the same will net the same results at a much higher price tag. It's time to think "outside" of the box. It's time to allow all Missouri families to choose the type of education they want for their children. After all, it's your money.
It seems to me, they act as if they are "on the job", but that job is really to disintegrate our system, which is run by the government anyway.
ReplyDeleteTransformation?
What an ugly, communist-looking logo they have concocted.
ReplyDeleteMarxists have always used that kind of harsh graphics...