Pasco School Superintendent David Shaw, who also is a member of the A-Plus Commission, said this sharing of successful methods is a key part of reform. For instance, when Pasco school officials recently learned about Prosser School District's successful reading program, they set out to learn more about it to see if it would help in Pasco schools. Education reform is working. Districts are revising their educational approaches - and taxpayers have earmarked more money for educational investment through a school funding initiative passed last fall. Patrick points out that schools are taking pains to improve on their own, noting that 60 percent of schools have met their three-year improvement goals after only two years.
Education reform is more than setting high academic standards and administering a test to students.
The real success of reform will be in ensuring that all students have every chance to meet those academic goals. That means making sure schools have every chance to do the same. The A-Plus Commission's proposals are a smart, reasonable way to continue this most important part of education reform. Copyright 2001 Tri-City Herald. All rights reserved.