Putting Kids First: A Platform for Improving Educational Outcomes in Arizona

We released the following press statement today announcing the release of my campaign platform:

State Superintendent candidate Jason Williams releases campaign platform
Plan emphasizes ‘kids first’ approach to improve educational outcomes

Phoenix, Ariz. – Jason Williams, one of the leading candidates for Superintendent of Public Instruction, released his campaign platform today outlining his plan for improving educational outcomes in Arizona. In the platform, which can be accessed online at www.WilliamsForArizona.com/platform, Williams emphasizes all actions of the Department of Education will be fair, innovative and accountable to ensure the best possible outcomes for Arizona’s students.

“Putting kids first is central to my campaign,” said Williams. “As Superintendent of Public Instruction, my responsibility, and the focus that will always be central in everything I do, will be to ensure every student in this state has access to an excellent public school, through which they will have the opportunity to pursue greater life prospects and reach their full potential.”

Among the priorities outlined in his platform, Williams’ plan includes:

• Redesigning the state assessment system as a first priority by bringing stakeholders together to develop a system based on multiple indicators of student achievement, while raising the bar on the level of difficulty for state assessments
• Developing incentive plans to attract highly effective teachers to high-needs schools
• Ensuring school principals are “true instructional leaders,” empowering them to build their teams while charging them with providing teachers the necessary support to lead their teams to excellence
• Rewarding teacher success with a more robust performance-based compensation system tied to the new state accountability system, using multiple indicators of student achievement and professional growth
• Assembling a nonprofit council to bring resources into schools, particularly under-resourced schools
• Providing local support to schools and districts, including assistance with identifying and applying for federal and private grants so no money is left on the table
• Reinforcing accountability systems so they honestly assess where students in Arizona stand
• Implementing three “gateway years” - 3rd grade, 8th grade and 12th grade – at which point students who are not performing will not be promoted to the next grade. This system will incorporate appropriate interventions to help underperforming students meet proficiency before each gateway year
  

“The challenges facing our public schools will not be solved overnight, but they can be solved,” said Williams. “Innovative programs and policies are necessary to adapt to our changing environment. Too often in our schools today, the word ‘accountability’ is just a catchphrase. Because educational outcomes are so aligned with our state’s economic strength, we must have real accountability in our schools. Arizonans can be assured all programs and policies will be fair, innovative, and accountable. Together, we can make Arizona’s public schools excellent and ensure all of our students have the opportunity to reach their potential.”

To read the full platform, visit www.WilliamsForArizona.com/platform.