Recently, a group of Arkansas business leaders known as the Arkansas Business & Education Alliance released a report titled "Facing The Facts About Arkansas Education." The report contained statistics with which many of us are all too familiar. It recited the sad litany of how Arkansas has been near the bottom in most education-related rankings for many years.

But this report took a different approach from previous reports. It admitted at the outset that these statistics wouldn't be viewed by Arkansans as anything new. The report then went on to say, "Dramatic news typically calls people to action. Dire circumstances often elicit emotions such as anguish, outrage and indignation. In Arkansas, the response remains at the level of acceptance, resignation and regret."

I'm thrilled these business leaders are ready to join me in declaring that low education rankings are unacceptable. I'm certain the vast majority of Arkansans join me in believing the priority of state government must be to improve our system of public education. And I'm happy to report we're moving in the right direction. As someone who always tries to shoot straight with the taxpayers, I must tell you the journey won't be easy. There will be painful decisions involved. We must, however, set up a structure that ensures accountability. You support our public schools with your tax dollars. You must know you're getting your money's worth.

The first thing we did was institute Smart Start, an intense emphasis on reading and mathematics for students in kindgarten through the fourth grade. Smart Start has proved so successful that we now are implementing Smart Step, a similar academic emphasis for students from the fifth through eighth grades. These programs are part of what's known by educators as ACTAAP -- the Arkansas Comprehensive Testing, Assessment and Accountability Program.

We've closely examined the successes that have been achieved in North Carolina and Texas. As chairman of the Southern Governors' Association, I've been fortunate to become friends with Gov. Jim Hunt of North Carolina and Gov. George W. Bush of Texas. They've shared their comprehensive assessment and accountability programs. We now have statewide academic standards that allow us to set clear teaching objectives. We have statewide assessments linked to those standards. We have accountability systems with consequences for schools that fail to perform. By the same token, we've increased the flexibility given to teachers and principals for programs that work.

We won't see reults overnight. Texas and North Carolina have been at it for several years. Yet results will come if we don't lose sight of our goals. Our underlying philosophy is that all children -- regardless of race or social status -- can achieve at a high level. We should accept nothing less. Gov. Bush describes expecting less than the best as the "soft bigotry of low expectations." Our belief is that the poor black child in Desha County is just as capable of learning as the rich white child in Pulaski County. We'll accept no excuses.

As I said, this won't be easy. For the first time in our state's history, schools will be held directly accountable for the results they produce. There perhaps are some teachers and administrators who fear their results will be published statewide for all taxpayers to see. But I believe the vast majority of our teachers and administrators welcome this opportunity to show what they can do. And I think teachers should be rewarded for their efforts. That's why we're asking all state agencies to hold the line on their budget requests for the next two years in order to steer revenue growth into higher teacher salaries. Increased compensation must go hand in hand with increased expectations.

The most encouraging thing is that public education is back on the front burner in Arkansas. There will be no bigger issue during the 2001 legislative session. Arkansans should go to the polls Nov. 7 determined to send legislators to Little Rock who are committed to improving our schools. We must demand better peformances from students, teachers and administrators. At the same time, we must demand that officeholders provide them the resources they need.

In the new economy, being 48th or 49th among the states will no longer cut it. As your local schools begin classes, give some serious thought to what you can do to make them better.