Parents disagree with lawmakers over reform.

• Position: Education - Brief Article - Statistical Data Included

As education reform is debated by lawmakers in Washington, the sixth annual national survey by Horace Mann Educators Corporation reveals that American parents of school-age children have a different set of concerns than those addressed by the proposed legislation. Lawmakers cite low student achievement as the catalyst for education reform, but parents believe there are more-critical issues facing their local schools. When asked about the biggest challenges facing schools in their area, 62.8% named insufficient funding; 49.2% said overcrowded schools; and 47.8% cited an inadequate number of teachers, compared with 43% who named low student achievement.

Seventy-seven percent do not believe lawmakers in Washington can solve those problems. Just 4.3% feel Federal legislators should have ultimate responsibility for the performance of local schools. Meanwhile, 38.3% said parents should have that responsibility. To a lesser extent, they cited school administrators (19.8%), teachers (13.9%), local taxpayers (10.5%), and local elected officials (8.7%).

The standardized testing that has been endorsed by the Senate and House, the lynchpin of the proposed reform legislation, is a controversial and difficult issue for parents. They are split on whether statewide standardized testing is a fair measure of student...