Jason Williams on Education in Arizona

Jason Williams, a Democrat running for State Superintendent of Schools was in Globe last night to talk to a group of concerned citizens and parents about his vision for the State’s educational woes.

Williams, who ran against Tom Horn in 2006, wants to shift the emphasis back onto public schools and do more to engage kids and address the issues in the public sector to raise the bar. Under the guidance of Tom Horn who has held the seat since 2002, the State greatly increased Charter schools (now at 453) and in a recent report put out by Stanford University the results  out from Charter schools appear disappointing.

“While the report recognized a robust national demand for more charter schools from parents and
local communities, it found that 17 percent of charter schools reported academic gains that were
significantly better than traditional public schools, while 37 percent of charter schools showed
gains that were worse than their traditional public school counterparts, with 46 percent of charter
schools demonstrating no significant difference”

Arizona has the dubious honor of being one of the worst states in the country when it comes to education. (see: Smartest State) To overlook the impact this has when trying to attract business and industry to fuel our economy is to miss the mark entirely. It is not enough to reduce business taxes. If business owners look at the schools here in Arizona and decide neither they, nor their employees, want their kids going to them , and if industry can’t find enough qualified, educated workforce to do the job, then Arizona will continue to struggle to have jobs and economic prosperity. It is critical to our livelihood- not to mention just caring about kids futures- that the State find a way to be better than Dead Last in this area.

Williams thinks he has a few ideas on how to get there.

He recently responded to Governor Jan Brewer’s address:

Phoenix, Ariz. – Jason Williams, Democratic Candidate for State Superintendent of Public Instruction, released the following statement in response to Governor Jan Brewer’s State of the State address Monday:

“This week, many Arizonans listened to Governor Jan Brewer’s State of the State speech, anticipating hearing how she was going to move the state forward.  Instead, we were treated to a campaign speech, demonstrating yet again the lack of true leadership at the Capitol.  As an educator, I listened intently for substantive ideas on how to reverse Arizona’s dropout rate, increase early literacy, and have real accountability for our public schools.  I am going to be honest.  I was surprised by what I heard.

“I am sure that many of you were also surprised, perhaps by the contradiction of calling for increased accountability from the public schools while simultaneously dumbing-down our educational accountability system.  I was surprised for a different reason, though.  Governor Brewer actually proposed two things with which I not only agree, but that I campaigned on in 2006:  ending promotion for students who are unable to read at a gateway year and having a comprehensive data system that allows all Arizonans to access information on how schools are doing.

“But we are no longer in 2006, and those ideas are no longer new suggestions.  They have instead become generally understood best practices in education.  But rather than implementing them while she has been in office or while her party has had power, the Republican leadership is still just talking about them.  It is time for true leadership.  It is time for the best practices to be implemented in Arizona’s public schools.

“We are indeed in a tremendous fiscal crisis, and I fully understand the challenges that are associated with trying to make ends meet.  However, as a state, we have to face the reality that we either invest in our students now or we will have to make an even greater payment down the road in terms of dropouts, prisoners, and an underprepared workforce.  Education has always been the foundation for a strong society.  I thank Governor Brewer for recognizing some changes that must be made to make Arizona’s schools an example of excellence.  But I am tired of hearing things suggested and never enacted.  We need real educational leadership and real accountability.  I look forward to bringing those values to the public school system as the next Superintendent of Public Instruction.”

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To learn more about Jason Williams, visit www.WilliamsForArizona.com