Jeff Kottkamp: Six steps to a quality education system

 It seems like every year a new debate arises on the latest way to “fix” Florida’s education system.  The latest example is the debate over Common Core.

Unfortunately, we will never truly develop a world-class school system until we discard the current piecemeal approach.  True and lasting reform requires coordinated reforms that affect every aspect of education.

Here are six steps we must take to make Florida’s education systems one of the best in the world:

1.  Recognize that the education system and the economy are directly linked.  Generally, education policy is not made in concert with economic development policy.  This is a mistake.  In reality there is a continuum that starts in pre-K, goes through our K-12 system, to our colleges and universities, and ultimately to our economic development efforts.  It is all connected.
2. Adopt the best international standards.  We now live in a borderless knowledge-based global economy.  Consequently, we should stop comparing ourselves to other states and should start looking to other countries for the most rigorous education standards.  Once we adopt rigorous standards as a matter of policy, we should let local communities select the curriculum to meet those standards.
3. Adopt a professional pay scale for teachers.  When it comes to education, it all starts in the classroom.  Great teachers really do make a difference.  Unfortunately, college graduates in the top 10 percent of their class rarely enter the teaching profession.  Why?  Because teachers are not paid a professional salary.  If we really want to attract the best teachers, they should have be able to earn up to $100,000.  The tradeoff is that teachers must be willing to be evaluated like other professionals — based on performance.
4. School principals should become CEOs.  We need to give them greater flexibility in how they operate their schools.  When a school is successful, we should reward the principal, financially and otherwise.
5. Place a greater emphasis on early learning.  If we really want to put our children on the path to success, we must do so as early as possible — especially for children in “at risk” environments.  This means placing greater emphasis on the education side of pre-K.
6. Reforms based on science.  When the class-size amendment passed, it was assumed by many that smaller classes would result in better education.  In fact, most scientific data indicates that class size matters most in kindergarten through third grade.  Beyond that, the impact is minimal yet the cost is great.  Scientific data also tell us that children who go to school year round retain significantly more of what they learn over the course of the year. They also and generally more successful in the classroom over the long run.  We can’t ignore this type of data if we want real reform.

A comprehensive approach to educational that includes these six reforms will allow us to establish a workforce pipeline prepared to lead in the 21^st century.  When you combine a strong workforce with our state’s natural beauty, our low taxes, and our amazing quality of life, very few places on the globe will be able to compete with Florida.