The following is an op-ed about education reform from Joe Knodell, a retired Missouri superintendent and consultant for the Missouri Education Reform Roundtable Foundation.

The 2009 legislative session hopefully marked the start of bringing real education reform to the state of Missouri. Key legislators seem to realize that Missouri must move forward on school reform so that our students can compete with those from other states and countries. For example, in the field of information technology, we do not have enough graduates to fill all of the positions available. As a result, a large number of immigrants from the Far East are filling them.

Indeed, many high-tech, high-paying jobs are going to people from other countries who are well educated and ready to live the American dream.

Education Week just published a story noting that Missouri is one of only four states that has not signed on to adopt rigorous standards in math and language arts. These standards were recommended by the National Governors Conference and Education Secretary Arne Duncan. Hopefully, Missouri will sign on soon. There media has well-documented other examples of how we trail other states and countries. That probably explains why the Missouri Legislature is seriously considering some reasonable reforms.

The best indicator that the legislature is ready to act was the passage in the last session of Senate Bill 291. Among other things the bill calls for a study on open enrollment by the Joint Committee on Education. SB 291 also included measures involving charter schools, teaching standards, transparency, virtual schools and a parent’s bill of right. All should move us in the right direction.

Sen. Rob Mayer of Dexter, introduced a bill on open enrollment that received a considerable amount of support in the Senate. But senators decided to study the matter first and reconsider the matter next year. Sen. Mayer, who is chairman of the Senate Education Committee, should be commended for his forward thinking.

We live in a world where kids know more about technology than most adults and many teachers. We cannot continue to educate children the way we were educated years ago. We must use the technology that is available and encourage talented people to become teachers. A well educated workforce is the key to prosperity. Kudos to our legislators who grasp this fact.