How can parents influence statewide education policy?
Join the Parent Teacher Association, get educated about the issues through state think tanks and organizations, such as the Expect More Arizona, Rodel Charitable Foundation or the Goldwater Institute, and contact your legislators. How can parents improve their child’s school? Volunteer at the school, ask to be on the school’s site council, talk about issues with a governing board member, or be courageous and run for a seat on the local governing board. If you could change one Arizona education policy, what would it be? Require all schools to enforce a statewide attendance policy for students. There is a high correlation between attendance and success in academic achievement. Parents need to be held accountable for their children attending school on a regular basis if the schools and teachers are being held accountable for teaching their children. John Huppenthal Background: The Chandler resident served on the Chandler City Council before being elected to the state Legislature in 1992.
