Will the November 4, 2008, State Board of Education election matter?

You bet it will.  Our city is in a headlong push to improve student achievement.  The new District of Columbia State Board of Education is a key part of these reform efforts.  As part of the effort we must watch, advise, and help set workable policies on everything from preschool programs to adult education.

And, because things are changing so fast, the State Board must listen to you and the community like never before.  Our kids' futures, not to mention the desirability of our neighborhoods, hang in the balance.

The State Board is the public's voice in public education.  We hold regular hearings-and incorporate what we learn from them to create better rules and practices.

In the past nine months, the State Board has approved the District's first-ever learning standards for health and physical education, which will help us tackle such social ills as the nation's highest rates of childhood obesity and teen AIDS.

In July, after much input from the public and experts, the State Board approved new home-schooling rules.  All of which was possible largely because people like you turned out to testify!

Long-term results demand long-term efforts, and the State Board takes the longer view — from 35,000 feet.  Precisely what do you and the community want from our education system over the long haul?  How can we tell if our schools are making meaningful progress?

Great public education is key to our city's economic and civic vitality — and to our children's futures.

Who is Mary Lord?

• A 30-year resident of the Dupont Circle/West End (Ward 2).
• A parent active in schools and community.
• A veteran education reporter for the national press.
• Concerned — and committed to raising the academic bar and building strong, safe and healthy schools where all children can flourish.
• Click here to see my platform.

What's at stake here?

• Elected State Board of Education (School Board) members are put there by you.  And you know your child's — and your community's — educational needs and concerns better than anyone.
• Everyone agrees our low-performing school system needs fixing.  The Mayor and the Chancellor need all the help they can get for reform to succeed — including tackling such unglamorous subjects as discipline policy, teacher certification, or graduation requirements.
• Without good schools DC will continue to lose a vital bedrock of our communities:  families with children.

Does the Board of Education have any role today?

Absolutely!  While board members no longer oversee day-to-day operations in schools or the central office, they have broad authority over policies, requirements and other crucial "infrastructure" that States set for their schools.  Their scope includes:

• Nutrition and efforts to combat childhood obesity
• School graduation requirements
• Parental involvement policies
• State home schooling standards
• Policies governing special, vocational, academic, charter and other schools
• Attendance and discipline
• Sex education, AIDS awareness and AIDS prevention
• Programs from preschool to adult literacy
• Accountability and school report cards
• Learning standards for arts education, world languages and other subjects

What can I do?

We're looking for feedback and support.

You can be part of the process by sharing your ideas and insights — and by supporting Mary Lord with your vote on November 4, 2008.

Your contribution of time, skills and money will be a big help.  Check the appropriate box in our feedback section to help make DC a better place for children and families.

How can I contact you?

Click here to e-mail me, I'd like to hear from you!