Legislative Priorities
2011-2012 Priorities
CRITICAL ISSUES
- Oppose Fair Tax initiatives and other tax reform proposals with unknown consequences for state revenue.
- Use the Missouri Public Education Vision Project to direct work for the children of Missouri. www.visionformopublicschools.org
LEARNING ENVIRONMENT
Springfield Public Schools (SPS) believes students should learn in comfortable, energy efficient, and sustainable facilities.
Related legislative priorities:
-Provide additional funding for energy efficient upgrades of public school facilities.
-Provide additional funding to ensure safe and healthy learning environments for all students.
EARLY CHILDHOOD
While the primary responsibility of SPS is K-12 education, SPS strongly supports a quality early childhood education for every child. Research shows that for every dollar invested in pre-school, the community realizes a ten dollar gain on this investment through an improvement in graduation rates.
Related legislative priorities:
-Provide additional funding for early childhood programs and to expand the Parents as Teachers program.
GOVERNANCE
SPS believes that locally elected boards of education are fundamental to the governance of the school system. The school board should set the vision for the school district, establish the structures, adopt policies, hire the superintendent, and engage in advocacy for children and their schools.
Related legislative priorities:
-Ensure all charter schools are accountable to publicly elected school boards.
-Enact legislation that encourages school districts to establish innovative programs.
ACCOUNTABILITY
SPS supports a state formative student assessment system.
Related legislative priorities:
-Support a comprehensive approach to staff evaluation including process and performance results.
-Ensure state and federal educational reforms are based on credible data and established best practices.
FINANCE
SPS must be given maximum flexibility in the use of financial resources.
Related legislative priorities:
-Oppose any attempt to divert revenue committed to or intended for public schools (i.e., tax credits and/or federal stimulus money).
-Support increasing state revenues available to adequately fund public education by bringing certain taxes on tobacco, alcohol and Internet sales to a level consistent with the national average.
-Oppose unfunded and underfunded mandates.
