Our children deserve the best opportunities we have to offer them. And the most important thing we can give them is a good education to serve as the foundation for their lives. But as it stands, the Little Rock School District (LRSD) is not providing that. Despite additional tax revenue funding as a result of desegregation mandates (to the tune of $550 million), the LRSD is consistently performing under state benchmarks in both literacy and math skills.
The LRSD is unfairly attacking public charter schools and using them as scapegoats. The LRSD claims that upper-class, Caucasian, well-educated students are fleeing the LRSD in favor of public charter schools. A study from the University of Arkansas, however, showed these claims to be unfounded. In 2009, only one percent of students left LRSD to attend a charter school. And of those, 72 percent were minorities.
If Arkansas is to compete with the nation – and ultimately the world – to bring new companies to our state, we must have a prepared, educated workforce waiting for them. At this time, we do not. As parents, business leaders and concerned citizens, we need to join our efforts and help build a better school system for our children. One filled with choice, opportunities and passing grades.
