Introductory overview followed by presentation of 2 Superintendent Candidates with opposing views.

Superintendent Candidate A says that the schools should rigorously enforce high academic standards for all its students. In this candidate's view, schools should have:

• clearly-defined academic expectations and standards
• competency tests every three grades that all students must pass to move on
• clearly-defined standards and consequences with regard to basic school work skills, such as attending class, being on time, and handing in homework
• standards for maintaining classroom order and safety, with a zero-tolerance policy

Superintendent Candidate B says that standards can be overdone and end up creating as many problems as they solve. In this candidate's view:

• The pressure should be on the schools as much as the students. Failure in meeting academic standards might be the school's fault as much as the student's.
• The schools should recognize that not all students will excel and be flexible with standards. Schools may need to scale down their expectations for some students and help them find ways that they can feel successful as well.
• Schools need to enforce rules of conduct without going overboard. The crucial thing is to keep as many kids in school as possible.