More choices, fewer boundary lines, higher achievement and student success.
That's what's bringing families in the Coeur d'Alene School District back to school this fall, with seven of the district's 17 schools now offering specialized programs in mathematics, science, health and the arts.
Today's editorial by the Spokesman Review about the revamped schools in CDA echoes similar sentiments expressed by AWB President Don Brunell in his recent column, "Washington students would benefit from charter schools." Our state's aversion to charters and other K-12 models is hampering student achievement, Brunell contends. It's also hamstrung the state's ability to attract essential grants like those in the recent federal Race to the Top program. Washington state placed 32nd out of 36 states with an application that included no mention of charters.
Writes the Spokesman:
Washington state doesn’t allow charter schools, and voters have turned away efforts to introduce them. However, there are ways to break the mold and offer educational niches for kids who are tuning out their teachers or dropping out of school altogether. But the road to innovation has been much bumpier in Washington, which helps explain why the state received such an embarrassingly low score on its federal Race to the Top application.
Perhaps Washington educators could schedule an across-the-border field trip to figure out ways to compete.
Students, their parents and families are looking for something more these days. Innovative approaches to the traditional K-12 experience are worth exploring if it means more students succeed.
