The Race for District 3
Hello to one and all, and Welcome!
I am using this Blog to share with you where I stand on issues affecting Nebraskans. I look forward to meeting with you and talking about your ideas and concerns. I invite you all to check in now and again as I share my experiences on the campaign trail.
For those who are use to the more traditional web format please visit:
http://www.scottprice2008.com/
This past weekend was full of events from Gretna to Bellevue. I was able to take in two great firework shows, eat BBQ for most meals, participate in the Gretna Parade, and more importantly meet many wonderful people in district 3. I look forward to meeting and speaking with as many of you as I can as the the campaign rolls on to the General Election November 4th.
Voters visited as of 20 July, 2008: 496
My Platform
As your representative in the State Legislature I will bring my proven work ethic, and common sense to Lincoln. I am willing to listen, and to work to understand the issues at hand.
I believe the strength of our state is in its people. I believe that good government should guarantee to its individuals equality before the law
I believe that government should promote the health, welfare, and safety of the individual and that government’s proper function is to do only those things which individuals cannot do for themselves.
My parents, teachers, and coaches instilled the desire to work hard and take pride in a job well done. 20 years service in the United States Air Force further solidified the importance of dedication and devotion to something larger than myself.
I am a conservative and believe in the importance of individual rights and of limited government.
With these principles, I believe I am the candidate for people who desire a positive and responsive government at the state level.
As I commented earlier, Look Out for Legacy Legislation and now we see the Legislature is at it again, creating ANOTHER tax draining entity!
Should some members of the Legislature’s Education Committee have their way, a state commission would take over planning and ensure implementation of statewide testing of public school students. LB987, introduced by Lincoln Sen. Ron
Raikes, would create the Quality Education Accountability Commission to
ensure statewide testing, reporting, upgrading of standards and tracking of student achievement, put into law last year. It would also create a "
quality education accountability office" that would be under the auspices of the governor.
I will post excerpts of this legislation in a comment.
Who is going to pay for this? Will the legislation cull out the required funding for this new office from the State Education funding?
2 comments:
HEre is the excerpt :
Sec. 6. The Quality Education Accountability Commission
is created. The commission shall consist of five members as
follows:
(1) Two members with expertise in educational assessment
at the elementary, secondary, or postsecondary level, appointed by
the Governor and confirmed by the Legislature; and
(2) Three members from the citizenry of the state at
large who have experience in education or a demonstrated interest
in educational assessment and accountability appointed by the
Governor and confirmed by the Legislature.
The State Board of Education may select up to three of
its members to serve as ex officio members of the commission.
Sec. 7. The commission shall:
(1) Establish standards and assessment procedures to meet
the requirements of state and federal law;
(2) Adopt a plan for the assessment 1 and reporting system
provided in section 79-760.03;
(3) Establish standards for statewide assessment. Other
state and local standards may be established but are not to be
required for state and federal reporting; and
(4) Hire a director of statewide assessment who may hire
such staff as necessary to carry out the duties of the commission.
The commission may contract with public or private
entities to carry out the responsibilities of the commission
and the requirements of the Quality Education Accountability Act.
Sec. 8. (1) The Quality Education Accountability Office
is created. The office shall be an agency of state government. The
office may be a separate division within an existing department of
the executive branch of government.
(2) The chief executive officer of the office shall be
known as the Director of Quality Education Accountability and shall
be appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Legislature.
The director shall serve as the primary staff for the commission
and shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor. The director may
employ such assistants, professional staff, and other employees as
may be deemed necessary to effectively carry out the provisions
of the Quality Education Accountability Act. The salary of the
director shall be fixed by the Governor unless otherwise expressly
provided for by law.
Sec. 9. The Quality Education Accountability Office shall
have the following powers and duties:
(1) To serve as staff for the commission;
(2) To officially represent the State of Nebraska to the
United States Department of Education on all matters dealing with
statewide assessment and state accountability;
(3) To develop guidelines for local and state reporting
for educational assessment;
(4) To develop and implement a statewide assessment
transition plan with the State Department of Education;
(5) To make contracts pursuant to the act and to do
all things necessary to cooperate with the federal government to
qualify for, accept, expend, and dispense funds intended for the
implementation of the act;
(6) To contract for services if such services cannot be
satisfactorily performed by employees of the office or by any other
agency of state government;
(7) To enter into such agreements as are necessary to
carry out accountability research and development of assessments;
(8) To carry out duties and responsibilities relating to
assessment and quality education accountability as may be requested
or required of the state by the federal government; and
(9) To form advisory citizen committees consistent with
the duties of the commission and the office.
Sec. 10. Section 79-762, Reissue Revised Statutes of
Nebraska, is amended to read:
79-762 The State Board of Education and the office shall
adopt and promulgate rules and regulations to carry out the Quality
Education Accountability Act.
And now Senator Schimek has also introduced legislation requiring the testing and oversight of homeschools. I have some thoughts on my blog and I would love your input, given your stance on individual rights and limited government.
I'm enjoying your blog, and beginning to wish you were representing my district, although I'm a bit to the south of you.
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