How can we improve education in Orange County?

By Arturo "Art" Pedroza, MBA

Orange County's education chief, Superintendent Bill Habermehl, has a plan to improve education in Orange County. These reforms are vital for the success of our children now and in the future.

• Extending the school year
• More local control over state funding for education
• Increase opportunities for parental involvement in schools
• Limit standardized testing to just students in grades three, six, nine and 12
• Expand community college and university partnerships with k-12 schools
• Increase physical activity for students before, during and after school
• Create more art programs

Studies have found that for some at risk groups, including English learners and low-income students, extending instruction does provide educational benefits.

Increasing parental involvement in our public schools is also vital to the success of our students, but I remain dismayed that so many school districts, including the Orange County Department of Education, do not use free translating software to enhance their websites and make them more accessible to parents who are not fluent in English.

How can we realize the reforms that Habermehl has suggested? Well, for starters, we need to elect state legislators who understand the value of these reforms. We also need to be careful about who we vote for in local school board elections. Look for candidates who are willing to embrace these reforms - and who aren't happy to accept the status quo. Habermehl is correct, we can and must do better. Our future depends on it.