Vote for education board members who will put kids ahead of ideology

Jack Christie & Jim Nelson:

Contests for the presidential and U.S. Senate nominations are at the top of primary ballots, but it's important that voters pay attention to races down the ballot this year especially those for the State Board of Education.

Because of redistricting last year, all 15 seats on the board are now up for grabs in the May 29 Republican and Democratic primaries and the November general election.

That means voters this year have a unique opportunity to shape public education policy in Texas for a generation.

By approving curriculum standards and textbooks, the board determines what millions of students learn in Texas public schools.

In fact, candidates elected to the state board this year will decide in 2013 and 2014 which science, social studies and math textbooks will be used in most public schools for perhaps the next decade. Additionally, recent changes in law have given districts much more control over the instructional materials, both hardbound and technology-based, than before.

Posted by Jim Zellmer at May 24, 2012 1:23 AM
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