The Empire (aka Arkansas Public Schools) Strike Back

I think I should be scared because of this.  An article published today by Arkansas Business (link) says the Arkansas Legislature failed to adequately fund the Arkansas Public School System and that lawmakers must take care of the funding deficiencies by December 1, 2006.  

I guess a $600+ million increase just wasn’t quite enough.  I mean after you pay for country club memberships and new football stadiums, I guess there still isn’t enough money to educate the students.

While I have no problem paying for education, you don’t solve a problem just by throwing money at it blindly.  I think if funding is going to be significantly increased, either we need increased accountability standards for the school districts or that school choice/vouchers should be allowed.  If we as the taxpayers are going to be paying more for public school education without seeing any significant returns on our “investment” in the form of better education students, then it should be time for us to allow school choice for the parents…

The districts that asked to open the Lake View Case did not even wait one fiscal year to examine what impact the increased funding had.

I think Governor Huckabee said it very concisely on AETN back in the spring when he stated that no matter how much money you give to a school district, that superintendent will say they are still do not receive enough money…