Triggering Reform

The National Journal Education Experts blog took up an interesting topic for discussion -- parental involvement. This is not your typical parental involvement -- this is the most innovative form of parental engagement we can imagine.

Here's the question, the National Journal posed?

Should Parents Dictate School Reforms?

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed education reform legislation on Jan. 7 that will give unprecedented power to parents whose children attend the worst-performing public schools. Under a provision known as the "parent trigger," if 50 percent of parents at a given school sign a petition, the school board must choose among several options, including closing the campus, converting to a charter, or replacing the principal and other administrators. Advocates of the controversial measure hope that it will make the state more competitive for Race to the Top money, in addition to improving education; opponents, such as the California Teachers Association, are concerned that the approach is too punitive.

Is the parent trigger a good idea?

Check out some of the responses. You might be surprised to find out how little respect parents actually get.

As for us, we think the parent trigger is a great idea that would do quite well here in Louisiana.