Education: What should be the mayor's role in improving student achievement? Ballard has set high standards
8.26.11

By Robert Vane / Indianapolis Star Dueling Debate

In all the time I have known and worked with Mayor Greg Ballard, I've never heard him speak as passionately about any other subject as he does about education.

Well, maybe about being an officer in the U.S. Marine Corps, but given his 23 years of service to our country, that's understandable.

From talking with community leaders about how to improve performance, to expanding and improving the charter school system, to working with state officials to make sure Indianapolis' voice is heard on reforms, Ballard is involved with education policy at every level.

Ballard, working with the superb staff at his Office of Education Innovation, has created seven additional charter schools and increased enrollment by 22 percent. He also made the tough decision to close a charter school when it failed to meet the high standards we should expect. The mayor also began a partnership with the Catholic Archdiocese to convert some of its schools into public charter schools.

This year, Stanford University found that charter school performance in Indianapolis outpaced traditional public schools in learning gains.

The mayor sets high standards, demands results, and holds schools accountable that don't measure up.

From this solid foundation of achievement, the mayor is incorporating the recently passed state reforms into his continued vision for improving education in our city.

As a proud graduate of Indianapolis Public Schools, I am frustrated by the lack of sustained improvement by my alma mater. There are pockets of achievement, of course, but overall the system is failing its students and its community. What should be done?

Currently, four IPS that have failed to meet the state's minimum education standards for six consecutive years now face a state takeover. The mayor's immediate focus is on achieving the best possible results for the students at these specific schools. There is community consensus that after six years of failing to achieve minimum standards, parents and students have a right to expect change.

The status quo at these schools is not acceptable. So, Mayor Ballard took action.

The mayor worked with the General Assembly to pass a law allowing him to ask the State Board of Education to return these schools to local oversight. He also plans to petition the state to incorporate these schools into a system similar to our successful charter program.

 

This approach strikes the right balance between maintaining the status quo, which is not acceptable, and a complete state takeover of these local schools.

 

His proposal acknowledges improvements must be made, but that improvement can only happen from within the community. The mayor's plan also ensures participation by parents, teachers, community leaders and others at the local level.

 

The mayor fully supported the education reforms championed by Gov. Mitch Daniels and Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Bennett; and while these reforms have raised the volume on the debate concerning the future of IPS, the mayor has been clear that he believes the time has not yet come for mayoral control and that the Daniels-Bennett reforms could forever postpone that day.

 

First, the reforms passed by the General Assembly have not been implemented yet -- let alone given time to work. Second, the mayor believes our immediate focus should be on the positive turnaround of the schools being taken over by the state. Once we successfully turn around these schools, then we can tackle IPS as a whole.

 

The mayor, however, knows Indianapolis education is not just about IPS. We have terrific schools, inspiring teachers, and remarkable students across the county. Ballard has spent countless hours meeting with parents, educators, and education policymakers listening to their concerns and ideas.

Much as he has worked to create jobs, reduce crime and rebuild our neighborhoods, Greg Ballard has spent his time as mayor enhancing educational opportunities for children in Marion County.

 

In the fight to improve our schools and invest in our students, the people of Indianapolis are lucky to have a Marine on their side.

 

Vane is president and CEO of Veteran Strategies, Inc. an Indianapolis-based public relations firm. He formerly worked as deputy chief of staff in Mayor Greg Ballard's administration.

 

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