AMERICANS FOR PROSPERITY EDUCATIONAL REFORMS

Concerned NEVADA Parents , Some people think that the best way to help our children is to throw more money at our public schools. As I pointed out in the Las Vegas Review Journal, the facts show that doesn't work. A better approach, which Nevada has already started to embrace, is charter schools. Charters are publicly funded institutions which are not subject to all of the rules and regulations of other public schools - including the demands of public school teachers unions. Charters can use their flexibility to offer a very innovative and student-centered educational model. Charter Schools are tuition free, and when they open, the demand is so high that parents generally must enter their child in a lottery for the opportunity to attend. Perhaps the best example of Charter School success is happening in New Orleans, where in 2003, they formed the Louisiana Recovery School District in an attempt to help turn around failing schools.  That district started with five of the worst schools, but after Hurricane Katrina, was given 107 more.  In 2005, only 12 percent of students in New Orleans attended schools with an 'A' or 'B' rating, but after last year that number had grown nearly three times, all up to 34 percent.  More importantly, children in schools with an F rating had gone from 75% all the way down to just 17% You can argue over a lot of education talking points, but you can't argue with the proven success of the Recovery School District. The district has seen a 23 percent increase in high school graduation rates from 54.4 percent to 77.6 percent.  That's real success!  Charter schools spearhead innovation and provide a model for traditional public schools to follow. They also hold schools accountable.  The Recovery School District hasn't just approved charter schools, they have shut down six underachieving schools as well.  This is a huge contrast to Clark County, which in 30 years, has only let go of two school principles.  If we are going to encourage innovation and growth, we must also actively increase accountability. Here in Nevada we have 32 Charter Schools, roughly 5% compared to public schools.  That percentage is smaller than all of our surrounding states.  The good news is that the Governor and legislature have passed legislation making it easier for Charter Schools to get off the ground.  Subsequent legislation has resulted in the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools ranking Nevada as the 13th best climate for Charter Schools. So now the question is, will Nevada work further towards true education reform, such as expanding charter schools, or will we stick with the alternative, increasing funding for a system that simply doesn't work? 2014 is a major opportunity for Nevada and School reform, and we hope you will join AFP Nevada in challenging our legislators to explore solutions to Nevada's failing education system.  Stay tuned for updates about other exciting educational reforms. Regards, Zachary Moyle Nevada State Director Americans for Prosperity