Why a school board?
Now that Utah has a waiver to No Child Left Behind, the ongoing discussion smolders in Internet exchanges.
In one exchange with state school board members, one board member stated: "Utah is developing its own tests and will not be bound to a consortium, the State Board will remain independent in determining its standards."
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Further, "The state sets minimum standards for achievement but does not enforce standards for individual students" and "the State Board will remain independent in determining its standards," and "Despite state core standards (including the common core standards in math and English)," districts "can always customize education for a child."
If the state standards are not "enforceable," are they merely suggestions, and as a result can a school district adopt its own complete set of standards? If so, using a bit of hyperbole, what is the purpose of the Utah State Board of Education, other than as a conduit of money from the state taxpayers to the local district? If USOE merely presents guidelines, why does it spend 13 percent of the $373 million education budget?
Inquiring minds would like to know who is really in charge of education. Hopefully the short answer is the parents.
Robert Wren
Heber
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