INDEPENDENCE ISO: | geben Issue Paper #14-87 Public Schools of Choice: Key to Colorado Education Reform by Dr. Richard Kraft ! We INDEPENDENCE INSTITUTE BF 14142 DENVER WEST PARKWAY, SUITE 185 GOLDEN, COLORADO 80401 (303) 279-6536 FAX (303) 279-4176 __ Note:The Independence Issue Papers are published for educational purposes only, and the authors speak for themselves. Nothing written here is to be construed as necessarily representing the views of the Independence Institute, or as an attempt (0 influence any election or legislative action.14-87 November 16, 1987 PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF CHOICE: KEY TO COLORADO EDUCATION REFORM By Dr. Richard Kraft The release in 1983 of A Nation at Risk galvanized the country into "doing some- + HOW thing" about the state of the American DOMEAS EOUGKYSGR aetc educational systen. What that "something" ought to be is a question that is still a Their hue ors AEA LG Fe being answered. form in the 1980s has been large) ficial. Here in Colorado our school systens are jargely superficial not generally in the same crisis condi- | 79 be really effective, the tion as those in some other states. Yet second wavee@or TERTEEAY AUEE CRE great pockets of need do exist in sone of See reform ust be our larger districts, and there are wide Seucturel. variations in quality” anong the state's || q systen giving parents ther smaller districts. their choice anong-pubTie SchooTS: The firstlndve “of school reform in. || ovacngeermenoce te et suena Colorado and throughout the nation has paigatetccnoals audaitneweravote been called the period of school inprove- pee aiaee ment. These reforms have concentrated on ‘the conparatively easy "external" aspects 3 . : Parents need _to be fully rein- of education, such as the length of the PORVac aa hae TERRACE CES school day and year, graduation require- || Snd-play a primary role in deter. ments, merit pay, higher teacher salar- RIRTARRC He EMMCH aie censee ecteee es, “achievement ‘testing, basic skills || ton'and the character of their tests for teachers, changes in the tenure || $19.2 law, school-university-business. partner- ¥ ships, career ladders, and a host.of | + site-based decision making” for other substantive and cosmetic changes. Gdiuolaeprovidcsmmrenieanccadten But if we are serious about improving || Pitty. educational performance, there must be a || § second wave of school reform, It will aghorce system wilt jevease the have to be a structural reform, getting Tre Tike bene ote inside the schools and classrooms of our || 274 treat then Tike true profes- state and nation. This is the judgnent iy voiced by educational and political || ynite the procedural problens are leaders across the country, including Pana EAUT CEE SNGETS LT RUTT tae many attending the national conference LEE RE Tees held in Denver last summer by the Educa Die fadere oe Sateen tion Commission of the States, at which eee the writer took part. These and other