Two years ago, I sent out a series of education reform postcards as part of my campaign for the House. These postcards listed four major education challenges facing Arizona and then offered solutions to each challenge. A picture of each postcard is shown above.
I am pleased to report today that through the efforts of many people, including legislators, educators, foundations and the Governor herself, we passed legislation addressing each one of these challenges and started Arizona education moving in a new direction. In fact, several pieces of education reform legislation passed the House with no opposition at all.
In a recent editorial by Dr. Matt Ladner of the Goldwater Institute, he praises the education reforms.
"...The chairmen of the Senate and House education committees, Senator John Huppenthal and Representative Rich Crandall, personally introduced several of the key bills. Most of the measures gathered strong, bipartisan support.
This year, Arizona lawmakers demonstrated with action, not just words, that they will not accept Arizona permanently sitting near the bottom of student achievement rankings. We will not see overnight improvement, and much hard work lies ahead. We have, however, taken the first vital steps to turning our school performance crisis around."
Dr. Matt Ladner
Vice –President of Research
Goldwater Institute
The last two years we took significant strides toward education reform, despite a difficult budget environment. It is my commitment to you that the next two years will be just as productive. You will see us tackle junior high dropout rates, district consolidations, teacher evaluations, performance funding for colleges and universities and expanded access to career and technical courses. This is in addition to the work already begun by the Legislature, the State Board and numerous other vested organizations.
My goal is the same as yours, to ensure Arizona children receive the best education available to prepare them for college, career and life!
