District 19 State Representative Ralph Watts says he’s concerned education initiatives are taking control away from local school districts.

“The Next Generation Science Standards is put forward as a way to teach fundamental science, chemistry, physics, biology and they are changing that to the point that I’m concerned that when our kids get out of school they won’t have fundamental science backgrounds for the most part.  I’m hoping we’ll do something with that this year in our debate on education” says Watts.

Watts says he wants to sever the tie with centrally planned guidelines and federal initiatives.

He says The Iowa Test of Basic Skills was the gold standard for years but now we’ve lost that.

“I would like to see us set our standards high, give our kids a good, fundamental, sound education and take care of our children that way and not rely on every program that education seems to lurch to every few years, looking for the golden answer to education problems.”

Representative Watts says a successful educational system will be one that provides school choice and more options for parents.