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That Governor Mike Leavitt would spend the majority of his recent State of the State speech addressing education issues underscores his determination to keep education in Utah, as he said, from backsliding.
On this priority point, KSL stands with the governor. Education is key to Utah’s future.
It is also significant that Governor Leavitt endorsed a "bold" proposal put forth earlier this month by the State Board of Education. The school board wants to change from a system that rewards attendance to one that focuses on competency.
In his annual address, the governor hit the proverbial nail on the head:
"This system doesn’t just need tinkering; we need a different system, because it’s organized around the wrong value. It’s organized around time, not competency."
The governor’s endorsement of such a dramatic change comes even as the State School Board is working to refine the idea of a competency-based system. Such a revolutionary overhaul of the state’s education system demands widespread discussion and full debate. It’s why the governor’s call for an educational summit meeting this summer has merit.
KSL believes creative approaches generated by "thinking outside of the box" are needed to solve Utah’s ongoing education dilemma of too many students and too little money. When it comes to educating Utah’s students, it is a time for boldness!
