2020 IN Gubernatorial race: on Education

Woody Myers: We can take a hard look at our voucher program

We can empower our public schools by giving them the resources and funding needed to provide a high-quality education to all students. We can take a hard look at our voucher program; while school choice has a place in our education system, the current program is not serving us well. It has created more demand for limited resources, reducing the funding available for classroom instruction and teacher salaries. We should make transparency and accountability a priority. Source: 2020 Indiana governor campaign website DrWoodyMyers.com Mar 25, 2020

Woody Myers: We need multiple pathways to obtain good-paying jobs

Indiana currently ranks among the 10 worst states in educational attainment and lacks the appropriate policies to support learners who haven't fared well in college. Our population demands multiple pathways to obtain good-paying jobs whether through a college degree, a certificate, apprenticeship, or vocational training. We aren't prepared to withstand the pressures of automation and its squeeze on jobs that's predicted for the future, with too many workers in dead end jobs vulnerable to loss. Source: 2020 Indiana governor campaign website DrWoodyMyers.com Mar 25, 2020

Woody Myers: For higher teacher pay & better testing model for students

Myers leaped on the governor for the pitiful way the state treats its teachers. He called for higher teacher pay and a better testing model for students. He also supported increasing the smoking age to 21 and curbing layoffs that have upended middle-class families. Source: Evansville Courier & Press on 2020 Indiana governor race Mar 2, 2020

Woody Myers: Boost teacher pay, increase access to vocational schools

He criticized the state's recent tax cuts for corporations and financial institutions. He discussed boosting teacher pay and increasing access to vocational schools and community colleges.

"Teachers are leaving our state in record numbers, students are being forced to deal with overcrowded classrooms and less individual attention, and it's wrong that music classes and art classes are becoming optional."

Source: Indianapolis Star on 2020 Indiana gubernatorial race Dec 31, 2019

Eddie Melton: Worked for Obama on mentoring boys and young men of color

Senator Melton has been instrumental in establishing mentoring organizations around the country and in 2015 was asked to work with Obama's administration in implementing My Brother's Keeper, a national initiative designed to address persistent opportunity gaps facing boys and young men of color. Source: 2020 Indiana Gubernatorial campaign website EddieMelton.com Dec 5, 2019

Eddie Melton: Increasing pay will address state teacher shortage

Eddie Melton introduced a bill that would address the startling lack of compensation teachers receive in the State of Indiana. Melton proposed raising teacher salaries by appropriating additional funds to the school funding formula in the 2019 budget session, showing our teachers that we value the hard work they do for all of our state's children. Improving teachers' compensation will also address the prevalent teacher shortage our state has increasingly faced over the years. Source: 2020 Indiana Gubernatorial campaign website EddieMelton.com Dec 5, 2019

Woody Myers: Higher teacher pay; end unnecessary administrative burdens

Many of those I spoke with have advanced degrees but are not making enough to support their families without second jobs. They are burdened by unnecessary licensing requirements. They are frustrated by standardized tests that do not accurately measure students and their progress. Far too often our teachers are acting as mental health counselors for their students because there are not enough social workers and others to meet student needs. Education in our state has reached crisis mode. We ask our teachers to work incredibly hard to give our children a stable foundation for the future. But that's hard to do when their own financial futures are rocky, and their attention is divided by a second job. We MUST do better. As your next governor, I pledge to work with the General Assembly to ensure more state funds make it into public school teacher pockets- and that unnecessary administrative burdens are removed. I am with Indiana's teachers. Source: Anderson Herald-Bulletin on 2020 Indiana gubernatorial race Nov 26, 2019

Eddie Melton: Criticizes current budget that favors online/charter schools

Melton, 38, who represents Gary in the General Assembly, criticized Holcomb for signing a budget that he said provides more dollars to virtual and charter schools than public classrooms, which he said saw a smaller funding increase. Melton said Holcomb's administration has also failed to adequately respond to demands for reforming the Department of Child Resources. Source: Crawfordsville Journal Review on 2020 Indiana Governor race Oct 13, 2019

Woody Myers: Pay teachers what they deserve; future depends on it

Myers said education is one of the areas he will focus on the most, saying "we'll stop cutting education and start paying our teachers what they deserve because our teachers are worth it, and the future of the state depends on it." Source: TheStateHouseFile.com on 2020 Indiana gubernatorial race Jul 10, 2019

Eddie Melton: No investment is more important than our students

I firmly believe that our budget is a reflection of our values. For example, Indiana is ranked dead last in teachers' salaries and 49th in student spending, yet we have a $2 billion surplus. No investment is more important than our students. Education is the bedrock of our community and the future of our economy. In order for us to advance the goals and dreams of our children that we all have shared, we must come together as Hoosiers from across the entire state. Source: Chicago Crusader on 2020 Indiana gubernatorial race Jun 7, 2019

Eddie Melton: Reduce private school vouchers; increase teacher pay

Melton has become the point person for Senate Democrats on education issues, pushing a plan during this year's legislative session that aimed at guaranteeing a minimum 5% raise for teachers by reducing state funding of vouchers for students attending private schools, eliminating proposed increases for charter schools and stretching out state payments toward a teacher pension fund. Source: Chicago Tribune on 2020 Indiana gubernatorial race Jun 4, 2019

Eddie Melton: Every child deserves a quality public education

Every Child Deserves the Right to a Quality Education
He will continue to work with local leaders on what's best for our children today, so they will be prepared for tomorrow.
Every Educator Deserves to be Valued and Supported
Ultimately, Eddie deeply believes in the power of listening and elevating the voices of educators in the creation and execution of policies that impact their work every day.

Source: Ballotpedia.org Connection: 2020 Indiana Governor race Nov 1, 2016

The above quotations are from 2020 Indiana Gubernatorial race: debates and news coverage. Click here for definitions & background information on Education. Click here for other issues (main summary page). Click here for more quotes by Indiana on Education. Click here for more quotes by Eric Holcomb on Education.
*Candidates and political leaders on Education:*
*Democrats running for President:* Sen.Michael Bennet (D-CO) V.P.Joe Biden (D-DE) Mayor Mike Bloomberg (I-NYC) Gov.Steve Bullock (D-MT) Mayor Pete Buttigieg (D-IN) Sen.Cory Booker (D-NJ) Secy.Julian Castro (D-TX) Rep.John Delaney (D-MD) Rep.Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) Sen.Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) Mayor Wayne Messam (D-FL) Gov.Deval Patrick (D-MA) Sen.Bernie Sanders (I-VT) CEO Tom Steyer (D-CA) Sen.Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) Marianne Williamson (D-CA) CEO Andrew Yang (D-NY) *2020 Third Party Candidates:* Rep.Justin Amash (L-MI) CEO Don Blankenship (C-WV) Gov.Lincoln Chafee (L-RI) Howie Hawkins (G-NY) ~~Gov.Gary Johnson~~(L-NM) ~~Howard Schultz~~(I-WA) Gov.Jesse Ventura (I-MN)	*Republicans running for President:* ~~Sen.Ted Cruz~~(R-TX) ~~Gov.Larry Hogan~~ (R-MD) ~~Gov.John Kasich~~(R-OH) V.P.Mike Pence(R-IN) ~~Gov.Mark Sanford~~ (R-SC) Pres.Donald Trump(R-NY) Rep.Joe Walsh (R-IL) Gov.Bill Weld(R-MA & L-NY) *2020 Withdrawn Democratic Candidates:* Sen.Stacey Abrams (D-GA) Mayor Bill de Blasio (D-NYC) Sen.Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) Sen.Mike Gravel (D-AK) Sen.Kamala Harris (D-CA) Gov.John Hickenlooper (D-CO) Gov.Jay Inslee (D-WA) Rep.Seth Moulton (D-MA) Rep.Beto O`Rourke (D-TX) Rep.Tim Ryan (D-CA) Adm.Joe Sestak (D-PA) Rep.Eric Swalwell (D-CA)	*Retired House as of Jan. 2015:* AL-6:Spencer Bachus(R) AR-2:Tim Griffin(R) CA-11:George Miller(D) CA-25:Howard McKeon(R) CA-33:Henry Waxman(D) CA-45:John Campbell(R) IA-3:Tom Latham(R) MN-6:Michele Bachmann(R) NC-6:Howard Coble(R) NC-7:Mike McIntyre(D) NJ-3:Jon Runyan(R) NY-4:Carolyn McCarthy(D) NY-21:Bill Owens(D) PA-6:Jim Gerlach(R) UT-4:Jim Matheson(D) VA-8:Jim Moran(D) VA-10:Frank Wolf(R)
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Page last updated: Apr 19, 2020