2020 WV Governor's race: on Education
Woody Thrasher:
I fundamentally believe in choice and competition
Q: Do you think the educational reform bill passed in 2019 is effective?Thrasher: It included lots of great things: allowing counties to pay teachers more in critical need areas, remote areas or areas with high turnover, along with master teachers,
mentors or academic coaches; funds for teachers to purchase supplies; funds for support services; and funds for counties with smaller populations. I fundamentally believe in choice and competition. This was a good start.
Source: Williamson Daily News on 2020 West Virginia governor race
Mar 24, 2020
Michael Folk:
Don't need to buy new math books every few years
Folk said there is wasteful spending in education. "I think there is too much of the education industry sucking money out of our education system," he said. "We do not need new math books every (few) years. Math has literally not changed for the last
75 years. I understand history and literature--but there is a lot of people making money off education that are not teachers, and a lot of times, it comes to testing."
Source: Martinsburg Journal-News on 2020 West Virginia Governor race
Feb 20, 2020
Michael Folk:
Teach basics to young children, not how to use devices
On schools: "Education is a big issue in West Virginia. We need to get back to basics," he said. "I know that is cliche but wasting money by putting a device in every child's hand from kindergarten to
third or fourth grade is the biggest waste of money, and that line item is between $10-$20 million. It is developmentally inappropriate for children of that age to have devices in their hand. They need to learn the basics."
Source: Martinsburg Journal-News on 2020 West Virginia Governor race
Jan 13, 2020
Ron Stollings:
Invest in education; value our educators
We need to invest in education and value our educators. Not only do educators and school service personnel teach our children, but, in many cases, they make sure these children are not hungry and that they have a caring adult in their life.
What happens between 3 p.m. and 7 a.m. is critical to a student's ability to learn. Studies show having a certified teacher in the classroom, smaller class sizes and parental involvement will help improve education outcomes.
Source: Charleston Gazette-Mail on 2020 West Virginia Governor race
Dec 23, 2019
Michael Folk:
Repeal Common Core and Testing
Repeal Common Core (especially Math & replace with common sense methods) and
Testing (replace with WV teacher developed tests).
Source: 2020 West Virginia Governor campaign website Folk4WV.com
Dec 16, 2019
Woody Thrasher:
For charter schools; not sure on education savings accounts
"In business, competition breeds better results, so I don't think there's anything wrong with having charter schools. I think it makes sense, and 44 other states have agreed with that." When it comes to Education Savings Accounts (ESAs), however,
Thrasher has not yet taken a position."This is a much more controversial issue because I think there's a reasonable argument that takes funds away from local school boards," he said.
Source: W.V. MetroNews on 2020 West Virginia Gubernatorial race
Jun 16, 2019
Jim Justice:
Cool to education savings accounts & charter schools
Education Secretary Betsy DeVos put out a message in support of an education bill being considered in the state Senate. It includes charter schools and education savings accounts, for students leaving public school for private education. Though the
Republican majority in the state Senate has pushed for increased school choice options, Justice has been more reluctant. He has expressed willingness to accept a few charter schools and has been less enthusiastic about education savings accounts.
Source: W.V. MetroNews on 2020 West Virginia gubernatorial race
Jun 2, 2019
Jim Justice:
Supports education, with focus on public school teachers
"We could have gotten a lot of stuff," Justice said. "We could have gotten two or three pilot charter schools. We could have gotten the math and science incentives. You could have gotten the teacher supply stuff, and the nurses and the counselors and
psychologists in the schools. We could have gotten the school aid formula for the counties that don't have big populations to be able to help those counties. I am all for every bit of that -- but I'm also a believer in our teachers in public schools."
Source: Wheeling Intelligencer on 2020 West Virginia governor race
Apr 14, 2019
Page last updated: Dec 19, 2020
Beshear(D)
vs.