2021 Governor's State of the State speeches: on Education
John Bel Edwards:
Increase in teacher pay isn't enough, hope to do more
Economic diversification and access to opportunity starts with education.The budget that I have presented includes another pay increase for K-12 teachers and support staff. It's not enough. I know that. But it is one step closer to bringing teacher pay
back to the Southern Regional Average. And, I hope that in a few weeks, our revenue estimate will look even better and we will be able to increase that investment.
Source: 2021 State of the State Address to Louisiana legislature
Apr 12, 2021
John Bel Edwards:
Invest in higher education for student success in workplace
This budget includes a historic $11 million increase in funding for Go Grants. By increasing funding for Go Grants, we can help even more students achieve their goals. Let's give him a round of applause! I want every student who walks on any
campus in this state to have the opportunity to thrive. I also want them to go on to succeed in the workplace. And simply put, we can't accomplish this if we aren't investing in higher education.
Source: 2021 State of the State Address to Louisiana legislature
Apr 12, 2021
Tim Walz:
Reform school financing, reflect diverse student body
I unveiled a new education plan this year. Named Due North, the plan serves as a guide toward a future where every child receives a high-quality education, no matter where they live or what they look like. This plan would tackle the racial and
geographic opportunity gap by dramatically reforming school financing, expanding access to rigorous coursework, and ensuring our curriculum and teacher workforce better reflect our increasingly diverse student body.
Source: 2021 State of the State Address to the Minnesota legislature
Mar 28, 2021
Ron DeSantis:
COVID: other states not opening schools a policy blunder
The failure of so many places outside of Florida to open schools at the beginning of the school year will go down as one of the biggest policy blunders of our time. Florida did not make that mistake. We followed the data and stood by our parents and
students. We ignored the political posturing and fear-mongering and did what was right for Floridians. Florida has succeeded where so many other states have failed in providing opportunities for its students.
Source: 2021 State of the State Address to the Florida legislature
Mar 2, 2021
Ron DeSantis:
Rejects education cuts, launched civics initiative
I reject reductions in funding for K-12 education. The Legislature answered my call to increase the average minimum salary for teachers, taking Florida from the bottom half of states to the top 5. Let us keep this momentum going. We are beginning to
place a strong--and long overdue--emphasis on vocational education. Florida has launched an ambitious civics initiative so that students can understand the principles that make our country unique. Florida is leading on education.
Source: 2021 State of the State Address to the Florida legislature
Mar 2, 2021
Janet Mills:
$6 million in low/no interest loans for childcare facilities
My Back to Work proposal will seek $6 million for low-or no-interest loans to renovate, expand, or construct childcare facilities and increase the availability and quality of childcare slots, with half of that money going to underserved communities in ru
Source: 2021 State of the State Address to the Maine legislature
Feb 23, 2021
J.B. Pritzker:
No budget cuts; focus on meeting needs of students
In March of 2020, I promised schools that they wouldn't lose funding because of the pandemic, and this budget keeps that promise. No schools will have to reduce spending, and they can instead focus on meeting the needs of students who have tried to
learn in a chaotic and trying time. The increased funding from the federal government will help us overcome the learning loss so many children experienced during this pandemic.
Source: 2021 State of the State Address to the Illinois legislature
Feb 17, 2021
J.B. Pritzker:
Expand college access for smart kids who can least afford it
Federal COVID relief funding will provide $740 million to post-secondary institutions in Illinois, so the most important place to invest in higher education is in expanding college access for those smart kids who can least afford it, which is why
I propose a $28 million increase to MAP grants--to be sure, less than the $50 million I proposed last year, but enough to allow thousands more Illinois students to get a scholarship.
Source: 2021 State of the State Address to the Illinois legislature
Feb 17, 2021
Chris Sununu:
$30 million in one-time grants for school capital projects
As the only Governor in the last 20 years to come up through the public school system, I know very, very directly how great that system is. And it's why we're so committed to supporting it. My budget ensures that we spend more money per child on public
education than ever before. It invests $30 million back to cities and towns in one-time Grants for capital projects, like school-building aid, investments into energy-efficient projects or alternative-fuel buses, other key areas of need.
Source: 2021 State of the State Address: New Hampshire legislature
Feb 11, 2021
Chris Sununu:
Student debt relief for graduates staying & working in state
Student debt relief: last year, I introduced an innovative student debt relief plan that would have provided nearly $10 million at no expense to the taxpayer for student debt relief, as long as those graduates stay and work in New Hampshire.
The Democrats removed this from my final budget but I am not giving up. This budget reintroduces the program and focuses on graduates who pursue careers in the much-needed fields of healthcare, biotechnology, social work, other related fields.
Source: 2021 State of the State Address: New Hampshire legislature
Feb 11, 2021
Chris Sununu:
Unified and merged state college and university system
My budget proposed a fully unified and merged New Hampshire College and University System, bringing 11 separate system together as one. This is the future of higher education. This evolution is not to benefit any one system but to every student across
the State. We also see the challenges and the inefficiencies in maintaining 11 systems, rather than one, integrated, collaborative approach to public higher education. This merger will enable a combined system to innovate in a coordinated way.
Source: 2021 State of the State Address: New Hampshire legislature
Feb 11, 2021
Bill Lee:
Expanding civics education with Civics Seal Initiative
Two years ago we created the Governor's Civics Seal to ensure we raise a generation of young people who are knowledgeable in American history and confident in navigating their civic responsibilities. Using federal dollars, we're doubling the number of
schools participating in the Civics Seal Initiative. Going forward we are developing a set of instructional materials that will be free to districts, so that ultimately every school can earn the Governor's Civics Seal at no cost.
Source: 2021 State of the State Address to the Tennessee legislature
Feb 8, 2021
Gina Raimondo:
Made community college tuition free before most states
We increased the number of high-quality career and technical training programs in our high schools by 60%. Later this year, we'll cut the ribbon on another education center in Woonsocket--replicating the successful model that has already provided
skills for new jobs to over 3,000 students. We took bold steps to make community college tuition-free for every high school graduate. At the time we did that, few states had taken this path. Now our country looks to us as a model.
Source: 2021 State of the State Address to Rhode Island legislature
Feb 3, 2021
Larry Hogan:
Scholarships for deserving students for non-public schools
Every single child in Maryland deserves a world-class education. That's why we are proposing that every school system receives more funding, regardless of declining enrollment figures. And we are expanding investment for full-day pre-K targeted
tutoring, scholarships for deserving students to attend non-public schools, and we are proposing the largest investment in school construction in state history to bring every single one of the state's schools into the 21st century.
Source: 2021 State of the State Address to the Maryland legislature
Feb 3, 2021
Tom Wolf:
Finally hold charter schools accountable for results
My plan more than doubles our investment in education. We will be able to fully and fairly fund every school, in every school district, in every part of the commonwealth. Putting all this funding through the fair funding formula means that
struggling schools will finally get the resources they need without taking away from schools already being adequately funded. No more passing on the cost of our broken system in the form of skyrocketing property taxes.
Our commitment to education isn't just about funding. It's about quality. My budget includes reforms that would finally hold charter schools accountable for the results they deliver. It lowers administrative costs in the Educational Improvement
Tax Credit program so we can fund 36 million dollars more in scholarships. And it gives the teachers to whom we entrust our children's future the security of a $45,000 dollar minimum annual salary.
Source: 2021 State of the State Address to Pennsylvania legislature
Feb 3, 2021
Tom Wolf:
High-quality education is the ticket to greater opportunity
High-quality education is the ticket to greater opportunity for our children. Without it, how can we hope that our kids will lead better lives than we did? By the way: Universal high-quality education leads to healthier people and healthier communities.
If it's not accessible to everyone, how will our kids be able to build a better Pennsylvania than the one we leave them? Over the past five years, we've delivered an additional 1.4 billion dollars in funding, for pre-k through college education.
Source: 2021 State of the State Address to Pennsylvania legislature
Feb 3, 2021
Greg Abbott:
Teach students what it means to be American & to be a Texan
If we expect the next generation of Texans to keep Texas the best state in the nation, we must teach them why we are so exceptional. We must educate them what it means to be an
American and what it means to be a Texan. We must bolster civics education in our classrooms and ensure that every child learns the values of freedom, good governance, and patriotism.
Source: 2021 State of the State Address to the Texas legislature
Feb 2, 2021
Kay Ivey:
$1.25 billion bond for K-12 public schools, state colleges
While 2020 presented a host of challenges, the year also gave us opportunities to do some big things such as work with the Legislature to pass the Public School and College Authority Bond.
This $1.25 billion investment sent money to every K-12 school system, and to all of our two- and four-year colleges. The proceeds of this bond will be transformational for years to come.
Source: 2021 State of the State Address to the Alabama legislature
Feb 2, 2021
Kevin Stitt:
Change school funding formula to current enrollment
One of the ways we can do this is by looking at how schools get their funding. The current formula lets schools pick their highest number of students over the last three years. There are more than 55,000 "ghost students" in our funding formula right
now. That means we're allocating close to 200 million of your tax dollars to students who don't exist. This is unacceptable. It's time for schools to be funded based on how many students they have now -- not how many they had in the past.
Source: 2021 State of the State Address to the Oklahoma legislature
Feb 1, 2021
Greg Gianforte:
More trade education scholarships; more teacher incentives
Our budget builds a stronger Montana workforce by prioritizing trades education. My budget establishes the Montana Trades Education Credit, or M-TEC. Our budget provides for as many as 1,000 scholarships per year by offering businesses a
50% credit for their employees to learn a trade. Together, employers and employees can decide on training that's best for the business and the employee.
We must do better for our starting teachers. That's why my budget provides $2.5 million in incentives to schools to improve starting teacher pay. I encourage the legislature to pass the TEACH Act, or Tomorrow's Educators are Coming Home Act, which
Representative Jones is sponsoring. By increasing their pay, let's make it easier for our starting teachers to choose to stay in Montana or come back home. Let's make their pay more competitive.
Source: 2021 State of the State Address to the Montana legislature
Jan 28, 2021
Mike Dunleavy:
Increase funding for public homeschooling
I'll be introducing legislation to increase funding for public homeschooling. Throughout the pandemic, public homeschooling has jumped from 11 to 22% of our students. With so many parents now working remotely, many students will also choose to be
educated remotely. It's important that we continue to meet the needs of these families through the purchase of textbooks, tutoring, and other educational materials and services.
Source: 2021 State of the State Address to the Alaska legislature
Jan 28, 2021
Gretchen Whitmer:
Our economy demands every child has a great public education
Our economy demands every child has a great public education. Despite the budget crisis caused by COVID, we worked across the aisle to support our public schools. I signed a bipartisan budget that protected our kids from school cuts
and took another step towards a weighted funding formula. That means additional support for: students with special needs, economically disadvantaged students, and English language learners.
Source: 2021 State of the State Address to the Michigan legislature
Jan 27, 2021
Gretchen Whitmer:
Tuition-free opportunities for COVID front line workers
I created Futures for Frontliners, modeled after the G.I. Bill after World War II - tuition-free postsecondary education opportunities for the heroes on the front lines of the pandemic. Our frontline workers--everyone who stepped up to
protect us--are heroes. They stayed at work so the rest of us could stay home. More than 82,000 frontline heroes have been accepted into the program. That's over 82,000 lives who will enhance their skill set and earn higher wages.
Source: 2021 State of the State Address to the Michigan legislature
Jan 27, 2021
John Carney:
Double Opportunity Funding for public schools
We created the Opportunity Funding program--Delaware's first weighted student funding system. We designed the program to offer classroom-based support for low-income students and English learners. And for the educators who work so hard with these
students every day. Over the next three years, we will more than double Opportunity Funding for public schools across the state. Already, Opportunity Funding is making a difference for our most vulnerable students.
Source: 2021 State of the State Address to the Delaware legislature
Jan 26, 2021
Michelle Lujan-Grisham:
Enact an equity-first budget for public education
We will enact an equity-first budget for public education, ensuring money reaches students and schools in proportion to the socioeconomic needs of community. We will tackle reforms in special education. We will move forward with a constitutional
amendment to invest in early childhood education and well-being. Together we will deliver to New Mexico voters the opportunity to make a generational investment in New Mexico children.
Source: 2021 State of the State Address to New Mexico legislature
Jan 26, 2021
Michelle Lujan-Grisham:
Supports tuition-free two-year higher education
We will deploy funding to realize free higher education for all New Mexicans. We were able to reach almost 5,000 New Mexico students with the Opportunity Scholarship in the fall 2020 semester alone, fully covering their tuition and fees at two-year
institutions. If the Legislature will commit the full $22 million in funding I've requested for this program this year, 30,000 more New Mexicans will have access to the two-year higher education they need without worrying about tuition and fees.
Source: 2021 State of the State Address to New Mexico legislature
Jan 26, 2021
Tate Reeves:
Job training lifts people out of poverty, into proud work
I also believe we need to sharpen one particular tool to get our economy rolling--our state's workforce development. We don't need Mississippians to be stuck in low-paying jobs. We want them to embark on careers with good pay and freedom.
The best way to accomplish that is to give them access to training that puts them in a position to succeed. It is essential. It is how we will succeed. It is how we will lift people out of poverty and into proud work.
Source: 2021 State of the State Address to Mississippi legislature
Jan 26, 2021
Tate Reeves:
Ensure parental choice to save children from bad districts
We need to keep fighting for every child to have access to the education that they deserve. We need to ensure that parents have
the choice to save their child from a district that lets them down. And we need to reward our teachers for the exceptional, life-changing work that they do.
Source: 2021 State of the State Address to Mississippi legislature
Jan 26, 2021
David Ige:
Maximize school land by building compatible structures
Last year, the Legislature established a School Facilities Agency to bring our aging school buildings into the 21st century. Even before the pandemic, the new agency was viewed as an exciting new initiative which will also provide jobs and economic
opportunities for Hawai?i. The School Facilities Agency is a first step in maximizing school lands by building teacher housing, childcare facilities, after-school centers and other uses that are compatible with school facilities.
Source: 2021 State of the State Address to the Hawaii legislature
Jan 25, 2021
Spencer Cox:
Change the way we fund schools, what's best for entire state
Education has always been called the great equalizer, but it can't be that way if our kids are not treated equally. It means changing the way we fund schools. It means challenging some of our long-held assumptions and setting aside what may be good
for your own individual school and district to instead support the best interests of the entire state. The best way we can bring to life the American promise is to make sure that every single child has the same opportunity as every other child.
Source: 2021 State of the State Address to the Utah legislature
Jan 21, 2021
Tate Reeves:
Have invested more than $10 billion in education programs
My vision is creating a seamless system of education from cradle to career. I have invested more than $10 billion in K-12 schools and early childhood education, including investments that prioritize career and technical education,
and building an antiracist curriculum that is honest about the past. We will continue to make progress toward stomping out the opportunity gap by ensuring 8,000 more kids are eligible for home visiting, early head start, and preschool promise.
Source: 2021 State of the State Address to the Oregon legislature
Jan 21, 2021
Eric Holcomb:
Parents deserve options but not at expense of public schools
Parents not only deserve to have options about where they send their child to be educated--after-all, they pay for it--but at the same time, those options
shouldn't come at the expense of the public school system, which educates 90% of Hoosier children.
Source: 2021 State of the State Address to the Indiana legislature
Jan 19, 2021
Eric Holcomb:
Help Hoosiers obtain post-secondary education for jobs
We'll continue our emphasis on helping all Hoosiers--whether you're 15 or 50--obtain the post-secondary educations that are needed to step into today's job market.
The "Workforce Ready" and "Employer Grant" Programs we put in place are making a huge difference for Hoosiers, moving more of them into higher-paying jobs and increasing the number of people achieving a post-secondary education.
Source: 2021 State of the State Address to the Indiana legislature
Jan 19, 2021
Steve Sisolak:
Dollars follow students, not districts nor schools
Two years ago, in the 2019 Legislative Session we began the process of modernizing Nevada's 53-year-old education funding formula. We took a significant step in the right direction with the creation of the Pupil-Centered Funding Plan.
Education funding should be allocated to meet each student's learning needs. The dollars should follow the students, rather than being connected to districts or schools.
Source: 2021 State of the State Address to the Nevada legislature
Jan 19, 2021
Peter Ricketts:
Fully fund aid to K-12 education, invest in next generation
I want to note that we can continue to support strong public schools. As I have done every year as Governor, my budget proposes to fully fund state aid to the K-12 education formula with an additional $42.7 million over the biennium.
We must continue to invest in the next generation of Nebraskans so they can access educational opportunities that can help them achieve their dreams.
Source: 2021 State of the State Address to Nebraska legislature
Jan 14, 2021
Tony Evers:
COVID: Hold schools harmless for enrollment reductions
I am recommending $647 million to restore funding to school systems across our state, fully fund enrollment growth, and hold schools harmless for enrollment reductions - with $573 million allocated to continue those efforts in next year's budget as
well. Those funds mean schools will be able to prioritize our students' safety, ensure quality instruction continues, and stand with our educators in the months and years to come.
Source: 2021 State of the State Address to Georgia legislature
Jan 14, 2021
Henry McMaster:
$13 million to establish Education Scholarship Accounts
I am setting aside $13 million in lottery proceeds for the General Assembly to establish Education Scholarship Accounts.
These accounts provide the opportunity for working or low-income parents to choose the type of education environment and instruction that best suits their child's unique needs.
Source: 2021 State of the State Address: South Carolina legislature
Jan 13, 2021
Henry McMaster:
Remove outdated "Common Core" textbooks from classrooms
Did you know that we still have a multitude of outdated "Common Core" textbooks being used in our classrooms--years after the General Assembly mandated their removal?
This year--like years past--I am proposing the funding necessary for the Department of Education to once and for all replace these books.
Source: 2021 State of the State Address: South Carolina legislature
Jan 13, 2021
Asa Hutchinson:
Raise average teacher salaries $2,000 over next two years
When it comes to our public schools, I support another round of increased pay for teachers. My goal is to raise average teacher salaries by $2,000 over the next two years.
You have already signaled your support to raise teacher pay. You've paved the way, you've led the way, and we can work together to accomplish this goal.
Source: 2021 State of the State Address to the Arkansas legislature
Jan 12, 2021
Kim Reynolds:
$28 million for public-private partnerships for child care
It's in our state's interests to encourage these types of public-private partnerships, which is why we created the Child Care Challenge Fund last year. This year, we need to fund that program, so I'm allocating $3 million to jump-start these
public-private partnerships. I'm also using $25 million of child care development block grants to further promote child care startups. Let's remove the obstacles to high-quality, affordable child care.
Source: 2021 State of the State Address to the Iowa legislature
Jan 12, 2021
Kim Reynolds:
Make open enrollment available in all school districts
School choice shouldn't be limited to those who have the financial means or live in a district that allows open enrollment. Let's make choice an option for everyone. We can do that by making open enrollment available in all districts and by allowing
our communities more flexibility to create public charter schools where there is a need for an alternative. We should create education savings accounts for students who are trapped in a failing school; let's give them another choice.
Source: 2021 State of the State Address to the Iowa legislature
Jan 12, 2021
Kristi Noem:
Schools should teach is US is most special nation in history
I have tasked my administration with creating instructional materials and classroom resources on America's founding, our nation's history, and the state's history. We must also do a better job educating teachers on these three subjects.
Through all of this, our common mission and key objective needs to be explaining why the United States of America is the most special nation in the history of the world.
Source: 2021 State of the State Address to South Dakota legislature
Jan 12, 2021
Brad Little:
Make sure all students can read by end of third grade
With all the disruptions in education delivery over the past ten months, many of Idaho's students are experiencing a learning loss. We must close the achievement gap. To help, my "Building Idaho's Future" plan recommends investments in literacy--my
highest priority in education.We must ensure this school year is an anomaly--not a permanent system-wide flaw for Idaho's students in the next decade or more. We must make sure all young students are on track to read by the end of the third grade.
Source: 2021 State of the State Address to the Idaho legislature
Jan 11, 2021
Doug Ducey:
Parents have new options, we should empower them
Children still need to learn, even in a pandemic. By necessity during this emergency, many parents have been more engaged than ever in the daily education of their children. Quite a few have found temporary educational options they want to make
permanent. It's their right. Public policy should keep pace and empower them to make that choice.
Source: 2021 State of the State Address to the Arizona legislature
Jan 11, 2021
Andy Beshear:
$1000 salary boost for all school workers
My budget calls for a $1,000 salary increase for every teacher, bus driver, cafeteria worker and other hardworking school employee in Kentucky. I am also providing support for preschool
programs to help children most in need get started early on a path to success and opportunity. We are restoring a teacher loan forgiveness program and continuing to fund additional, full-time, school-based mental health services.
Source: 2021 State of the State Address to the Kentucky legislature
Jan 7, 2021
Andy Beshear:
$100 million to repair crumbling public schools
Too many of Kentucky's schools are crumbling and in dire need of repair. Some date as far back as the 1930s. So my budget calls for $100 million in additional one-time money to help rebuild and repair Kentucky's schools. This will improve the experience
of students, educators and staff; it will enhance the surrounding communities. It will also create thousands of construction jobs and unleash a wave of positive economic activity across Kentucky.
Source: 2021 State of the State Address to the Kentucky legislature
Jan 7, 2021
Phil Scott:
Investing in childcare a top priority; address inequities
Despite the nearly $2 billion we spend educating 83,000 students, we know there are drastic differences from district to district and not all kids get off to the same start. To me, this is the most glaring example of inequity that exists in our state
and it cuts directly across regional, economic and racial lines. We must fix this, and we should start by making sure all kids have a solid foundation. That's why I've made investing in childcare a top priority.
Source: 2021 State of the State Address to the Vermont legislature
Jan 7, 2021
Doug Burgum:
Expand career/technical academies across the state
Should that individual choose an education pathway in a career academy like the very successful one here in Bismarck that teams up higher education, the private sector and K-12, he or she shouldn't have to live in the capital city to have access to
that type of learning model. Our budget called for providing $45 million to support the expansion and development of similarly successful career and technical education centers across North Dakota.
Source: 2021 State of the State Address to North Dakota legislature
Jan 5, 2021
Page last updated: Feb 24, 2022
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