South Carolina Bureau
AIKEN --- State Education Superintendent Jim Rex spoke to residents Thursday night about his initiative to energize what he calls the state's ailing education system.
Chris Thelen/Staff
South Carolina Education Superintendent Jim Rex will take his message to the Aiken Chamber of Commerce at this morning's breakfast.
About 40 teachers, administrators and parents attended the town hall session at South Aiken High School. Dr. Rex has traveled across the state in his first year in office, offering such events to keep people informed on his plans.
Dr. Rex acknowledged that change can't happen overnight, but he said the state lacks a needed sense of urgency to update and improve programs and accountability measures for schools.
During the session, Dr. Rex outlined his plans proposed to the state Legislature this year including:
- Reforming accountability
- Fully-funded 4-year-old kindergarten programs for all at-risk children
- Public school choice
- Equitable and adequate funding for all school districts.
Earlier this week, Dr. Rex announced a plan that would eliminate the Palmetto Achievement Challenge Test, replacing it with an exam that Dr. Rex believes would reflect useful diagnostics for teachers and bring about faster results.
The improvements would automatically feed into Dr. Rex's other initiatives, including innovation in the classroom and improving teacher recruitment and retention, because testing and paperwork often lead to less creativity for helping students in the classroom, Dr. Rex said.
"I like the innovations he's talking about because you don't want to take what these teachers have to offer away from these students," said Karen Kyle, a former teacher. "And I love how these ideas fuel how the community can work better together. I really care about education and have for a long time. It's the most important issue out there today."
Dr. Rex will also address the Aiken Chamber of Commerce on the importance of involving the community in his plan for education, including the cost on society if a child is not educated well enough to become a productive citizen.
"For every dollar we spend on a child's education, we get anywhere from $9 to $13 back.
"We have to find better ways to communicate with parents and we need to get the faith community much more involved," he said about having more than just school districts involved in improvements.
Reach Julia Sellers at (803) 648-1395, ext. 106, or julia.sellers@augustachronicle.com.
IF YOU GO
WHAT: Aiken Chamber of Commerce breakfast with state Education Superintendent Jim Rex
WHEN: 7:30 a.m. today
WHERE: Houndslake Country Club
COST: $15 for breakfast
Call (803) 649-1200, ext. 500, for immediate information
