Education: Our obligation to Nevada's children

Today I will chair the first meeting of the Assembly Committee on Education for the 2005 Legislative Session. I am honored to serve as chair of this committee, one that makes critical decisions that govern and shape education in Nevada. As a former teacher, I know firsthand the complexities and opportunities that face families, educators and lawmakers.

This legislative session, my number one priority will be the academic success of Nevada's students. In order to accomplish this, it must not be politics as usual. We will evaluate policies of varying scope, scale and cost that help students achieve in the classroom.

There are already a number of innovative programs throughout Nevada proven to increase student achievement. One of my goals as chair is to identify and showcase these programs so that they serve as positive examples for all Nevada schools.

Two successful examples are right here in the Carson City: Success For All and Cell Excel. These two elementary school reading programs stress writing, language arts and a phonetic approach to early childhood reading. The teachers, parents and students involved with these programs have achieved great success.

Expanding these programs statewide and replacing less productive reading programs could be done easily and would, in many cases, be cost neutral. Furthermore, we need to look critically at programs that have not resulted in students making adequate progress and adjust or cut those programs that aren't working. Not all ideas work for all schools, and not all programs result in student success.

We know that improved student performance is not just tied to spending and innovative program implementation. We will explore constructive ways to include parents in their child's academics.

The Assembly Committee on Education will examine parents' roles in the success of their children. We must provide opportunities and recognize the verifiable benefits gained when educators, students and parents are closely partnered.

This partnership was a strong priority of mine when I was president of the statewide Parent Teacher Association, and it will remain a priority this session.

Above all else, our decisions will focus on students. When teachers, parents, students, community leaders, businesses and lawmakers come together for the benefit of our children, the state of Nevada will deliver the greatest opportunities for students.

They deserve no less; we can offer no less than our best effort.

n Bonnie Parnell, a Democrat,represents Carson City in the Nevada Assembly.