Missouri Rep. David Klindt (R-Bethany) discusses Missouri’s schools.
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by State Rep. David Klindt
Missouri schools are confronted by fierce challenges today. The simple solution proposed in the past has been more money for schools, but despite an ever-expanding state budget, money for education is tight. We already rank well above the national average in the portion of our state budget that we devote to education (a quarter of out total state budget), but many of our schools and, most importantly, our students are languishing in under-achievement. Obviously, money alone isn’t the answer.
The situation is at its worst in our two major urban school districts. Despite intervention from state policy-makers and federal courts over the past many years, the quality of education in our urban school districts has continued to decline. Last month, the state finally revoked the accreditation of the Kansas City School District and put the St. Louis School District on probation. These schools need our help, but a real solution should not just be an innovative, new way to throw more money at the same problem. Over the life of the Kansas City School District desegregation court case, the state has invested nearly $2 billion in the district. The court-ordered desegregation plan has been called “the most ambitious and expensive remedial program in the history of school desegregation.” Over the past three years alone, the state has spent $320 million for district improvements in order to finally exit the case. While these resources may have brought segregation to a halt, they have not cured the education deficit. It is a tragedy when our schools are incapable of educating our children — when our students are not given a fair opportunity to learn.
Money alone won’t solve this problem. Real solutions are those that foster self-improvement and incentives to succeed. One idea that has already been implemented and is proving successful is the charter school program. In 1998, the legislature provided for the creation of independent, publicly supported schools in Kansas City and St. Louis sponsored by the local school district or a nearby college or university. These schools are not subject to the same regulation as other public schools and are therefore more free to take advantage of new educational techniques. Charter schools provide an alternative to traditional, city public schools and create competition that motivates the adjacent school district. But although charter schools bring much needed diversity and competition to urban schools, we must continue to act to strengthen our traditional public schools.
Last year, several of us introduced legislation in the General Assembly targeted at helping both urban and rural education by reforming state funding and educational administration. We plan to re-introduce these same measures this year. One such proposal is the Year 2000 Classroom Fund, or “Y2C.” This would provide for the direct transfer of gaming proceeds to school districts and will enable the districts to spend the money on their most pressing needs, be they school construction, teacher recruitment and professional development, or technology enhancements.
Another proposal is an urban education renewal plan that would restructure the Kansas City School District into multiple, smaller, community school districts. This will cut bureaucracy and allow for local control and oversight. Communities and neighborhoods will once again be able to take pride in their local schools.
Other ongoing programs that have proven successful, such as the A+ Schools program, will compliment our new efforts. These efforts, I am confident, will turn the tide in our struggle against these problems.
The key to better schools and educated students lies in increased citizen involvement and encouraging guidance that fosters innovation and inspiration, not in rewarding failure with a forced spending spree.