This is a guest opinion column
Education in Alabama is evolving rapidly. With the recent adoption of the CHOOSE Act, which allows public funding to follow children to private schools, and the expansion of charter schools across the state, parents now have more options than ever when it comes to choosing where to send their children for an education. As the Superintendents of Autauga and Elmore County Schools, we fully support a parent’s right to choose the best educational setting for their children. In fact, both of our districts have developed in-district transfer policies that give our families the freedom to choose which school their children attend within our systems.
However, while we recognize that there are challenges in our education system, we request that policymakers listen to those in the trenches to enhance public education. In this article, we will explore two critical areas where we can make meaningful changes to improve public education in Alabama.
Curriculum Flexibility: A Right for All Schools
One key issue in Alabama’s education system is the pace of the curriculum and the overemphasis on testing. Unfortunately, as public school systems, there is little we can do to change this reality, as it is mandated by federal and state law. Private and charter schools, however, often use curriculum flexibility as a recruitment tool to attract students and parents…