Education reform group's focus

With an eye toward addressing education concerns, a community action organization, People Actively Promoting Education Reform, has formed.

Meeting without an official name for the last six to seven months, the group has installed officers and board members, mainly from Cape Girardeau and Jackson, president David Larson of Jackson said Sunday

Seven of the group's eight board members took a course through the Center for Self-Governance in Murfreesboro, Tenn., which Larson said teaches people how to build relationships with elected officials and bring government back "where it belongs -- with the people."

"During that course, you write an essay and express your concern on a certain issue. Several wrote about education, so we just started talking at the different schools and districts and saw a common thread," Larson said.

One of those common threads was dislike for Common Core standards, although Larson said the group's concerns don't stop with that. There are other issues that communities need to look into, he said.

"We've been taking a look at different issues in different school districts trying to come up with a plan to talk to school boards to bring the community more into governance of the schools, rather than the federal government and the state government," Larson said.

According to the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education website, the Missouri Learning Standards include the Common Core State Standards for English language arts and math. "The standards simply state what students are expected to know at each grade level," the site says. Most school districts, including Cape Girardeau, Jackson and Scott City, have begun implementing them.

At its Jan. 27 meeting, PAPER installed a president, vice president, secretary and treasurer and four board members, Larson said. He declined to name the other officers and board members saying he prefers to reveal them when the group announces itself in the next 30 to 60 days.

The group has written guiding principles, mission, value and vision statements and is working on becoming a Missouri not-for-profit corporation, Larson said. The organization also has contacted people with similar concerns in Chaffee, Mo., and Sikeston, Mo.

Stacy Shore of Concerned Women for America of Missouri will speak at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Clinton Building Community Center, 501 Campanella Drive in Sikeston.

Plans include a survey to find out what the public's educational concerns are and compiling a list that could be used to help address school boards; and bringing in speakers on a quarterly basis.

rcampbell@semissourian.com

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