Public invited to forum on education

Arkansans for Quality Education will hold a Southwest Arkansas Education Forum at 5:30 p.m. today at Trice Elementary School, 4505 Pinson Drive, Texarkana, Ark. Representatives from Texarkana, Ark., DeQueen, Horatio and Magnolia School Districts will give presentations on the successes they’ve seen in their schools. The public is invited to attend and dinner will be served.

Kyle Leyenberger, communications specialist for the Arkansas Education Association, said this is the first forum AQE has held in the state, but the group hopes to hold more in the future for educators, administrators and

policy makers to talk about the implications of what’s working in their schools and how those successes can be replicated in other areas of the state.

“The goal is to get people engaged in public schools and share that information with their lawmakers, as well,” Leyenberger said.

According to a press release, AQE was formed to push for proven, consensuseducation reform at the Capitol. Members include the Arkansas Association of Educational Administrators, Arkansas Education Association, Arkansas Opportunity to Learn Campaign, Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families, Arkansas School Boards Association, Arkansas Rural Education Association, Arkansas Citizens First Congress and the Rural Community Alliance.

Leyenberger said the coalition “Saw some things happening at the capitol that were concerning, so we started working together to try and make lawmakers know there are other options that have scientific backing behind them and are proven

to work. We want the public to stay, be engaged and be sure they are holding schools accountable.”

In a press release, TASD Superintendent Dr. Becky Kesler said the event is an opportunity for the public to become involved in not only local education initiatives and successes, but also in their implementation across the state.

“There is wide agreement on a set of practice-proven ways to improve our schools,” Kesler said. “As a community, we must stand together to call on our elected officials to focus on these solutions to ensure a brighter future for our students.”