State Web site wants parents' opinions of education

The Daily Inter Lake

There's still one week left to give state legislators your opinion about quality K-12 education through a Web site initiated by a Bozeman lawmaker.

Rep. Roger Koopman, a Republican, offered the site as a way for Montanans to register their opinions on the future of public education.

The site is www.qualityeducationsurvey.com

Feb. 28 is the last day to answer the survey's four questions.

The site explains the Legislature's mandate to reshape school funding and to conform with the state constitution's requirement to "provide a basic system of free quality public elementary and secondary schools."

The survey asks four open-ended questions requiring one-sentence answers:

1. How would you personally define "quality schools" or quality education?

2. What is your position on the current level of school funding?

3. What is your number one criticism, concern or frustration with the public school system?

4. If you had a magic wand, what one action would you take to improve Montana's public education?

It's limited to one survey response per person or two per household.

Koopman, a member of the House Education Committee, targeted the survey at parents of K-12 students. He said parents are underrepresented in Helena's education debate.

Professional experts need to be heard in the debate, he said, but "the most relevant opinions are those of the parent and the taxpayer."

A report on the survey's results will be presented to the governor, the State Board of Public Education, the Office of Public Instruction, the House and Senate Education committees and the Montana news media.