Survey of 2010 Gubernatorial campaign websites: on Education


Henry McMaster: Early education is the beginning of economic health

2009: Stood up for childhood education: Protected the people's vital interests in the critical education case in Clarendon County, which confirmed the necessity of early childhood education as the beginning of economic health and prosperity.
Source: 2010 S.C. Gubernatorial campaign website HenryMcMaster.com Jan 11, 2017

Nikki Haley: Expand charter schools

South Carolina's 37 charter schools have successfully integrated themselves into local communities and successfully supplement current education options. While still public schools, these unique institutions have enough autonomy and flexibility to use innovative education techniques, provide outstanding education, and focus on specialized areas such as technology, math, and science.

The answers to expanding charter school use in South Carolina are similar to the ones for other public schools. These charter endeavors create totally new schools that have a modern mission and measureable goals in place before the first student walks through the door. This can mean fresh starts for thousands of South Carolina's students every year; this is not an opportunity we can let pass us by.

Source: 2010 Gubernatorial campaign website, nikkihaley.com "Issues" Nov 2, 2010

Allen Weh: Expand charter schools & provide parents with real choices

Every child deserves a quality education, but under the Richardson administration very little reform has been made in our schools. A recent report points out that an astounding 46% of our high school students drop out before they receive a diploma. Our students' ACT scores, as well as reading and math scores in both the elementary and secondary years, remain some of the worst in the country.

I believe we can do better, and I know I can make the system do better. As governor, I will strengthen and improve our education system and curb our drop-out rates. I will accomplish this by expanding charter schools, providing parents with real choices in how they educate their children and demanding accountability for performance. For students who are at risk of dropping out of high school, I will make sure there is an alternative route for them, whether it is the completion of a GED or the opportunity to learn marketable work skills so they can enter the workforce.

Source: 2010 Gubernatorial campaign website, AllenWeh2010.com Nov 1, 2010

Andrew Cuomo: Double the charter school cap

New York must be the leader when it comes to education reform. This starts with the increasing the charter school cap from 200 to 460. But increasing the cap won't result in more charter schools if we too tightly restrict where they can be located or how they can be approved. We believe that public review and consultation are important--especially when charter schools will be co-located with traditional public schools--but this cannot become a poison pill that prevents opening new charter schools. As Governor, Andrew Cuomo will also oppose arbitrarily limiting the number of charter schools that can operate in a school district. And because SUNY has done a good job in approving and monitoring charter schools, we should continue to allow SUNY to have shared authority for approving charter schools with the Board of Regents. As a strong supporter of charter schools, Andrew Cuomo understands how important it is to retain high standards and strong accountability.
Source: 2010 gubernatorial campaign website, andrewcuomo.com Nov 1, 2010

Charlie Baker: Increase charter, magnet, and alternative public schools

I have a personal investment in our state's education system. I attended Needham Public Schools. My three children are products of Swampscott Public Schools. I served on the Massachusetts Board of Education.

To meet tomorrow's economic challenges; Massachusetts must put students and teachers first. I believe our school system must put aside the politics, and promote accountability, flexibility, performance and innovation.

I believe education is a civil right. As Governor, I will focus on closing the educational achievement gap among underprivileged and minority students, because every student deserves the opportunity to compete and succeed in the future. Not one, single child in Massachusetts should be trapped in an underperforming school.

We should expand public school choice by increasing the number of charter, magnet, and alternative schools, because meeting the promise of our next generation begins with strengthening Massachusetts' public schools.

Source: 2010 gubernatorial campaign website, charliebaker2010.com Nov 1, 2010

Dan Malloy: Engage parents in local school governance councils

I refuse to accept the false choice that you're either "pro-reform," or "pro-teacher." I'm both. I'm pro-reform, as long as it doesn't mean just bashing teachers, and I'm pro-teacher as long as that doesn't just mean maintaining the status quo.

In the state's recently-passed legislation designed to compete for Race to the Top money, one of the goals is to do just that: engage parents in a meaningful way. The bill establishes local school governance councils that include parents and help create a sense of community that can make schooling more relevant to kids, and kids more connected to their community. However, these councils are only required for low-achieving schools. We should not stop there.

While governance councils are one tool for improving achievement, they are still a top-down approach to decision-making that limit involvement to only a few engaged parents. My administration will create opportunities for all parents to be involved.

Source: 2010 gubernatorial campaign website, DanMalloy.com, "Policy" Nov 1, 2010

Dan Malloy: Make public schools money follow children

I'd like to examine the feasibility of transitioning toward a new, smarter system of funding for all of our public schools where money follows children based on their needs. I'd also look to refocus state school funding by indexing foundation aid to rising costs, adding measures of essential classroom resource equalization, and weighting more for pre-school and elementary grades where the greatest educational gains can be made.
Source: 2010 gubernatorial campaign website, DanMalloy.com, "Policy" Nov 1, 2010

Dan Malloy: Charter schools provide options within the public system

I'm a supporter of charter public schools, because they serve a different, very important function: they provide families with options within the public school system. During my time as Mayor, Stamford created two charter public schools. Their mission wa to provide an option for students who have had trouble achieving success in other schools - and the results have been overwhelmingly positive. We should seek to expand charter schools that are fully funded by the districts in which they're located.
Source: 2010 gubernatorial campaign website, DanMalloy.com, "Policy" Nov 1, 2010

Jerry Brown: Give school districts more flexibility and hold accountable

We need to dramatically simplify the Education Code and give school districts more flexibility on how best to meet state standards. We should hold schools accountable for outcomes, not issue minute prescriptions from Sacramento on how to achieve those outcomes.
Source: 2010 Gubernatorial campaign website, jerrybrown.org Nov 1, 2010

Mary Fallin: Give option of escaping failing schools