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Tom Wolf on Education
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Increase pay for teachers; increase early childcare
We need policies that start at the very beginning, and end with every Pennsylvanian receiving an excellent education and the opportunity to land a good job. I know that no new parent looks at their baby and sees a spreadsheet, but the fact is that
preparing our kids for success starts long before they ever enter a classroom. That's why this new program includes funding for home visits to support vulnerable pregnant women, new mothers, and at-risk infants and toddlers.
My plan increases the pay floor for teachers to $45,000 a year. This is a real investment in our future. It's an investment the state--not local school districts--will make--and it's included in this budget. Most districts that cannot afford to pay
their teachers more are located in the heart of rural Pennsylvania, and it is time to make sure we are investing in educators in those areas today to prepare our kids for the competitive world of tomorrow.
Source: 2019 State of the State address to Pennsylvania legislature
, Feb 5, 2019
Ease student debt if grads stay in Pennsylvania
My plan creates a new grant program for students who graduate from a Pennsylvania community college with an associate's degree or other industry-recognized credential--and then stay in Pennsylvania to start their careers.
If you're willing to put your newly-acquired skills to work here in our Commonwealth, the least we can do is help you avoid carrying around a crushing burden of student debt.
Source: 2019 State of the State address to Pennsylvania legislature
, Feb 5, 2019
Opposes diverting state funding away from public schools
Q: Increase funding for K-12 education?Scott Wagner (R): Said PA spends "enough money" on public schools. Save money by cutting teacher benefits.
Tom Wolf (D): Yes. Worked to restore previous administration's budget cuts--would like to increase
funding.
Q: Support vouchers to help parents send children to private schools?
Wagner: Yes. Parents should have choice of where to send child.
Wolf: No. Oppose any program that diverts state funding away from public schools.
Source: CampusElect.org Issue Guide: 2018 Pennsylvania Governor race
, Oct 9, 2018
Increase state funding for higher education
Q: Increase state funding for higher education?Scott Wagner (R): Unclear. But unless pensions & health benefits are cut, predicts financial death of all 14 state colleges by 2022.
Tom Wolf (D): Yes, but may not be able to get past legislature. Incre
Source: CampusElect.org Issue Guide: 2018 Pennsylvania Governor race
, Oct 9, 2018
$15M for community colleges but they must freeze tuition
This budget increases our investment in public schools at every grade level. It also recognizes that our responsibility to provide a great education does not begin at kindergarten and end with high school. That's why my budget also expands access to
early childhood education by increasing the number of children in Pre-K by 75%. That's why we are increasing funding to community colleges by $15 million. And that is why we are restoring 50% of the cuts to our state system of higher education.
But those improvements come with a string attached. In return for these increases, today I am calling on our institutions of higher education to freeze tuition, and I expect them to answer that call.
These investments in higher education and community colleges will help prepare our young people for jobs that pay.
Source: State of the State address to 2015 Pennsylvania Legislature
, Mar 3, 2015
Restore money cut from public schools
All four Democratic candidates would seek to restore money that Corbett cut from higher education and public schools to balance the budget. They also all oppose vouchers for private schools.Wolf would seek to increase the state's share of public
school spending to 50 percent of the overall cost. Would convene a commission to develop funding formulas for charter schools and cyber charters. Would develop a five-year funding plan for state-subsidized universities.
Source: The Patriot News on 2014 Pennsylvania governor debate
, May 10, 2014
Support our state's public education system
Tom Wolf is a major supporter of our state's public education system, and he knows that Pennsylvania is home to some of the best public schools in the country. His two daughters attended York County public schools, where they developed a strong academic
foundation that prepared them to go on to top-notch colleges and build successful careers. But he also knows that there is still a lot of work to be done. Pennsylvania needs a leader who will work tirelessly to make sure that every child, regardless
of his or her zip code, receives the best possible education. As governor, Tom Wolf will restore Governor Corbett's $1 billion in cuts to education, implement a fair funding formula, and institute reforms to help local school districts innovate and
improve student performance.
Tom also believes Pennsylvania should extend the notion of basic education to include universal pre-K, because too much of the battle for educational achievement is lost before our children enter kindergarten.
Source: 2014 Gubernatorial campaign website, WolfForPA.com, "Plan"
, Mar 3, 2014
Charters ok, but no mass expansion
As governor, Tom Wolf will fight everyday to build a strong public education system so that we can keep, create, and attract good jobs right here in Pennsylvania.The state's charter school sector is one piece of our public education system.
It can play an important role in introducing new and innovative teaching practices that can be expanded to local school districts.
Unfortunately, Governor Corbett and others in Harrisburg have prioritized mass expansion and deregulation of this sector over accountability and student outcomes. This is the wrong direction for public education.
As part of his education agenda,
Tom Wolf will work to refocus this sector and make sure that every public school--district-run, charter, or cyber charter--is held to the same high standards.
Source: 2014 Gubernatorial campaign website, WolfForPA.com, "Plan"
, Mar 3, 2014
Page last updated: Mar 12, 2019
