Education Needs Reform

Core academics and parental rights

Chris Brandlin argues that Nevada schools need reform built on two things: a firmer focus on core academics, and a clearer role for parents in decisions about their own children.

Nevada's standing in national education rankings has been a durable political issue for decades, and its persistence across administrations of both parties is itself the strongest argument that the causes are structural rather than partisan. His position is that reform should begin with what schools are measurably for — literacy and numeracy — before it extends anywhere else.

The parental-rights half is contested, and it is presented here as his position rather than as settled policy. In practice it concerns procedure: what curriculum materials families can review, and how a concern actually reaches someone with authority to act.

This is one of the nine commitments. Standards are set through the Nevada Legislature and the state and district boards.

Related: Nevada's education crisis, teaching versus indoctrinating, and parents and education.

More at education reform and The 9 Commitments.