Warning signs on a possible education-based ballot measure

by David Safier

I'm still hoping, but, honestly, right now I'm less than hopeful.

Months back, an unusual group began discussing a ballot measure to guarantee funding for Arizona's public schools. The group included Lisa Graham Keegan (conservative, voucher advocate, charter school advocate, education advisor for McCain's 2008 presidential bid), Craig Barrett (ex-Intel CEO, charter-school advocate, district-school basher, head of Brewer's Arizona Ready Education Council [AREC, sounds like A-Wreck]), leaders of the AEA (Arizona Education Association, the teachers' union) and leaders of the AEN (Arizona Education Network, a parent-based group working to improve education funding and quality).

My concern was, no possible middle ground can be struck when the goals of the members are so far apart. I have waited patiently and quietly to see if some kind of accomodation was possible.

I may have gotten my answer, in the negative. A Capitol Times article (subscription only) makes it sound like Barrett is saying, Forget about increasing education funding. I'm for giving more money to charters and increasing the penalties on "failing schools."

Barrett apparently thinks school funding isn't such a big issue, because, he says, the state's fiscal situation in improving. It's a ridiculous assertion on its face. A bit more revenue is flowing into the state coffers, but it's nothing in comparison to the recent cuts in education — and besides, the Republicans aren't about to put much of the added revenue into education. To the extent our economic situation improves, it will be a long, slow grind. And meanwhile, the temporary one cent sales tax hike only has a three year lifespan, meaning schools are going to face guaranteed cutbacks if that money isn't found elsewhere.

How serious was Barrett about improving funding for schools — or even restoring it to previous levels? Not very, according to an East Valley Trib article.

But Barrett, while acknowledging Arizona is "not terribly high" on funding per students compared to other states, rejected the idea that more money is at least part of the answer.

According to Barrett, money isn't the answer — or part of the answer — even if our spending per student is at the bottom on the nation.

Barrett believes, he said in an interview on Brahm Resnik's Sunday Square Off, there are simple solutions to improving education:

"The solutions are incredibly simple. They're so simple, it's pathetic."

A warning. Don't trust anyone who claims there are simple solutions to complex problems, let alone "incredibly simple" solutions.

And Barrett thinks charters are the answer, while district schools are places students are "stuck."

"Only 10% of the kids in Arizona are in charter schools. 90% are stuck in the public school system."

Nevermind the fact that charters have no better record of educating students than district schools. In a Stanford study, when comparing similar students, Arizona's charters came in slightly lower in achievement than our district schools.

But Barrett is the head of BASIS charters, which he thinks are an example of what charters can do. He compares BASIS against all district schools. That makes as much sense as comparing TUSD's University High against all charter schools.

Because people I respect asked me to wait and watch as the discussions between these disparate groups and people continued, I have waited and watched. Unfortunately, it looks like the discussions are breaking down. I still hope I'm wrong about the direction things are heading, but I fear I'm right.