As 2018 comes to a close, I have been thinking about what I want to see happen in education next year. Below is my 2019 education wish list.
High academic standards
Parents, like myself, would like to know that our goal for our children is for them to be proficient math and reading. That standard should not be lowered because of the color of their skin or the zip code they live.
School options
I want school options that are easy for parents and families to not only understand but are able to easily accessible. We have so many school options in Indiana, but I have found that many parents don’t know their options. Parents who do know their options clearly can’t access them.
Safety
With the increase in school violence, parents want to know that schools are taking the extra steps to keep their children safe. We do not want any school shootings in 2019.
College and career readiness
School should prepare our children for the future. Parents want their children to be prepared for life after high school whether it be the workforce or college.
Character building
Academics are just one piece to the puzzle when it comes to education. As a parent, I know character building starts at home. But with children spending a great deal of their time at school, it’s nice to know character building is being continued in the school setting.
Assessments that matter
There is a lot of disagreements about if testing should have such high stakes or not. I do believe we have to assess if our children are learning and staying on track, but as a parent, I would like to see a better way to use the assessments to remediate children who are lagging behind. I would like to see more resources in the form of tutors or additional staff to assist in bringing children up to proficiency in reading and math.
Community
Schools are a main part of our communities. I want my school community to be a place where teachers, students, and parents grow, learn, and help each other. Our schools should be places that teachers are proud to teach, students love to attend, and families are proud to enter.
What would you add to the list?