State of West Virginia secondary Archives: on Education
Ben Salango:
Fund public education so all can prosper
Under a Salango administration, teachers and school service personnel will not have to strike to get what they deserve because Ben knows that the real road to prosperity in
West Virginia is through the classroom. Ben believes that strong public schools make for a stronger West Virginia. He will give educators a raise in order to recruit and retain teachers and school service personnel.
Source: 2020 West Virginia gubernatorial website BenSalango.com
Oct 9, 2020
Bill Cole:
High speed internet access in every classroom
Senate President Bill Cole says he's armed and ready with plans to bring prosperity back to the Mountain State. Cole says, `we need a solid infrastructure, that supports investment and
job creation and includes not only high quality roads and bridges but also a first class system of technology that brings high speed internet access to every home, every business and every classroom in West Virginia.`
Source: WVVA.com on West Virginia gubernatorial race
Jun 2, 2015
Bill Cole:
Student potential diminished by crippling bureaucracy
The statistics are staggering. West Virginia ranks 22nd in per pupil spending, but only 50th out of 51 in final performance rank. Also, according to the Governor's internal education audit,
West Virginia is one of the most regulated school systems in the country. This leads me to believe that the potential for student achievement is diminished by crippling layers of bureaucracy.
It is also my understanding that as much as 80% of the WV prison population is comprised of high school dropouts. This would suggest that if our schools were more crowded, our prisons would be less crowded.
We need to give our kids a reason to stay in school- that being the potential for a better life through available employment opportunities as they graduate.
Source: 2016 West Virginia gubernatorial website, BillColeForWV.com
Jan 1, 2012
Bob Wise:
First priority: PROMISE College Scholarship Program
Our passport to prosperity is education - and education is the centerpiece of my program. My first priority is funding for the PROMISE Scholarship Program. This will provide each qualified student who works hard and plays by the rules with a scholarship
at one of our state colleges, or an equivalent scholarship to be used at a West Virginia accredited program. This Legislature has already passed the basic legislation, but there hasn’t been any money provided to keep the PROMISE. It has to happen.
Source: 2001 State of the State Address to West Virginia Legislature
Feb 14, 2001
Bob Wise:
Raise teacher salaries by $1,000; plus $2,500 in incentives
Teachers are the heart of the educational system. We must honor the work of our teachers. Therefore I propose to increase the salary of every West Virginia teacher by $1,000, and every school service worker’s salary by $756, effective January 1, 2002. Let me speak directly to our educators. Your salaries have fallen to below 40th place in the nation. I commit to you tonight a multiyear effort to
begin moving you back up the national ladder. We need to do more to keep the best and the brightest educators in our schools. I will commit to working with you on a strategy to develop incentives to keep experienced teachers in class longer.
Source: 2001 State of the State Address to West Virginia Legislature
Feb 14, 2001
Don Blankenship:
Teachers should be graded and denied raises if sub-standard
Blankenship said another step to bettering West Virginia education was to grade teachers on an A to F scale. "Just like they give our kids," he said. These teachers would be graded on aptitude tests taken by their students, according to Blankenship.
Teachers with better teaching results would become trainers and get bonuses, while those who receive poor results would be demoted or discharged. "They would be denied raises just like they would be in a company," Blankenship said.
Source: TheDAOnline.com on 2018 West Virginia Senatorial race
Mar 2, 2018
Earl Ray Tomblin:
Create rewards program to educational innovation
While there are reasons why traditional charter schools are not the best option for our students, we can find common ground by rewarding schools for innovation and creativity while raising student achievement. I'm introducing legislation to establish
a new program--Innovation in Education. This will reallocate nearly $2.5 million in existing education funding to help schools develop new methods to increase our students' interest in science, technology, engineering, math and entrepreneurship.
Source: 2016 State of the State speech to West Virginia legislature
Jan 13, 2016
Jim Justice:
Return education back from bureaucracies to local level
I'm in the school all the time. We've proven how to be dead last. At round table discussions--you got a bunch of really, really sad unhappy campers. So I think we need gigantic education reform.I will submit a bill to eliminate any of the unnecessary
bureaucracies that we have. We have got to return education back as much as we possibly can to a local level. I have put in my budget a 2 percent raise for all classroom teachers, and I am ashamed that we can't do more.
Source: 2017 West Virginia State of the State address
Feb 8, 2017
Jim Justice:
Replace Smarter Balance with ACT testing
Now, as far as testing, we are testing our kids totally to death. For what? Here's the bottom line: I'm all results oriented. If we were knocking it out of the park, you could argue with me we're doing the right thing. But for crying out loud, we're
dead last. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure this out. We got to be doing something wrong. That's all there is to it. As far as the testing goes, I am going to propose we throw Smarter Balance in the trash can and we go to ACT testing.
Source: 2017 West Virginia State of the State address
Feb 8, 2017
Jim Justice:
We're dead last: 2% teacher raise; and dump state testing
Let me go to education. We've proven how to be dead last. So I think we need gigantic education reform. I will immediately submit a bill to eliminate any of the unnecessary bureaucracies that we have. I have put in my budget a 2 percent
raise for all classroom teachers, and I am ashamed that we can't do more.Now, as far as testing, we are testing our kids totally to death. For what? If we were knocking it out of the park, you could argue with me we're doing the right thing.
But for crying out loud, we're dead last. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure this out. We got to be doing something wrong. That's all there is to it. As far as the testing goes, I am going to propose we throw Smarter Balance in the trash
can and we go to ACT testing.
Think about [how we score] A through F for our schools. We do it on a bell curve. We say: "Come to West Virginia. Our schools are mostly all C's." I don't get it. That's got to go. A through F is gone.
Source: 2017 West Virginia State of the State address
Feb 8, 2017
Jim Justice:
Support non-college career paths
We got to build this workforce like we can't imagine. I want us to develop a way to where kids in high school and the trades can get an associate degree while they're in high school. I also want us to add, if it's possible, a 13th year where they can
get additional accreditation or additional certifications. I want somehow, some way, for us to be able to make our community and technical colleges free.
Source: 2018 West Virginia State of the State address
Jan 10, 2018
Jim Justice:
5% teacher's pay raise, as part of education reform
I would have said before, "Make education our centerpiece. " You see, I've really been a believer that education is the hot spot that really can change our image. Now, we have decided to invest. We got rid of A through F. We absolutely got rid of
so much of the ridiculous testing, and we put control back in the local hands as much as we can.
We absolutely gave a 5% teacher's pay raise, and we ended up giving a 5% across-the-board pay raise to all State employees.
We did change our image. We've still got a long ways to go, but we did change it.
In regard to PEIA, [the Public Employees Insurance Agency], I promised that we would put $50,000,000 in PEIA one year, and $100,000,000 total. Well, we've got enough
surplus dollars, we could put $100,000,000 into PEIA right now. But today, PEIA does not need any true-up moneys. Putting $100,000,000 into PEIA is a giant first step. And we can do that, and that is exactly what we're going to do.
Source: 2019 State of the State address to West Virginia legislature
Jan 9, 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
Joe Manchin III:
$540 million in ongoing school construction
Last July, WV became the first state to use the Qualified School Construction Bonds statewide, letting us build or improve dozens of schools at a much lower cost. We currently have $540 million in ongoing school construction--the largest amount in the
history of the School Building Authority, but much more needs to be done.I am asking the Legislature to give the SBA more borrowing flexibility. This will allow us to create a steady revenue stream and provide safer schools at cheaper bond rates.
Source: West Virginia 2010 State of the State Address
Jan 13, 2010
Joe Manchin III:
More accountability & more audits in the education system
Manchin brought up the importance of adding more accountability in the education system. "We have to start demanding more and more accountability, responsibility," said Manchin. "There is an audit going on in West Virginia now and
I hope they adopt this audit in the legislature to make the changes that need to be made to improve education in the state of West Virginia."Raese, on the other hand, said that competition is what's good for education.
But he didn't stop there, he added that competition is also good for
America and West Virginia.
Source: West Virginia MetroNews on 2012 W.V. Senate debate
Oct 3, 2012
Joe Manchin III:
Keep public education infrastructure strong
Manchin says the state can and needs to do much better on public education, but he wants to keep public education infrastructure strong. "I don't believe in getting rid of the Department of Education," Manchin said.Raese wants more opportunities
for programs that would allow families a voucher to send their children to private schools, which he says create competition and improve the quality of education. "We don't need a federal education system to set our curriculum," Raese said.
Source: West Virginia Public Broadcasting on 2012 W.V. Senate debate
Oct 3, 2012
Joe Manchin III:
Limit student loan repayment to 15% of income
Q: Refinance existing student loans if lower rates exist? Support income-contingent loan repayment? Support & expand Pell Grants?Joe Manchin (D): Yes. Introduced bills to refinance at market rates & to limit repayment to 15% of income.
Signed on to support & strengthen Pell Grants.
Patrick Morrisey (R): Unknown. Reached settlement with for-profit online education company to forgive student debt.
Source: 2018 CampusElect Issue Guide on West Virginia Senate race
Oct 9, 2018
Joe Manchin III:
Vouchers pull resources from schools that need them most
Q: Provide vouchers to parents to send their children to private schools with public money?Joe Manchin (D): No. "Would pull already limited public
school resources from the schools, students & teachers that need them most."
Patrick Morrisey (R): No statement found.
Source: 2018 CampusElect Issue Guide on West Virginia Senate race
Oct 9, 2018
John Raese:
Competition is what's good for education
Manchin brought up the importance of adding more accountability in the education system. "We have to start demanding more and more accountability, responsibility," said Manchin. "There is an audit going on in West Virginia now and
I hope they adopt this audit in the legislature to make the changes that need to be made to improve education in the state of West Virginia."Raese, on the other hand, said that competition is what's good for education.
But he didn't stop there, he added that competition is also good for
America and West Virginia.
Source: West Virginia MetroNews on 2012 W.V. Senate debate
Oct 3, 2012
John Raese:
Allow families a voucher to send kids to private schools
Manchin says the state can and needs to do much better on public education, but he wants to keep public education infrastructure strong. "I don't believe in getting rid of the Department of Education," Manchin said.Raese wants more opportunities
for programs that would allow families a voucher to send their children to private schools, which he says create competition and improve the quality of education. "We don't need a federal education system to set our curriculum," Raese said.
Source: West Virginia Public Broadcasting on 2012 W.V. Senate debate
Oct 3, 2012
Michael Folk:
State funding for charters and vouchers
Q: Do you support the national Common Core State Standards initiative?A: No. Federal government needs to get out of our state educational systems... i.e. unfunded mandates.
Q: Do you support a merit pay system for teachers?
A: Yes.
Q: Is the tenure process for public school teachers producing effective teachers?
A: No. Tenure has little to do with effective teaching.
Q: Should parents be allowed to use vouchers to send their children to any school?
A: Yes.
Q: Do you support state funding for charter schools?
A: No.
Q: Do you support the state government providing college students with financial aid?
A: No. Promise scholarship is already available... any more than status quo... NO.
Source: West Virginia State 2012 Political Courage Test
Nov 1, 2012
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
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
Natalie Tennant:
Address numerous small reforms, not huge sweeping measures
Q: What are your plans when it comes to education reform?A: Education is near and dear to my heart. It's who I am and how I was raised. My dad is a retired principal. My mom is a retired teacher. I'm the youngest of 7 children, and including my
siblings and their spouses, 11 out of 14 of them are educators. So I hear what is taking place on the front lines. Some of the reforms that I see that are important are [not] these huge, sweeping measures. But they can be truancy; let's address that.
Let's address discipline because teachers need to be able to have the control in their classroom, and they need backup. I'm about using technology, but it doesn't do you any good if the teachers don't know how to use it. I also think it's important that
we are holding teachers accountable. Another reform is innovation zones. Those are the different aspects that I talk about education, but paramount is believing we can have the best system and then all working together to get there.
Source: The Register-Herald: West Virginia gubernatorial profiles
Apr 25, 2011
Natalie Tennant:
Public moneys should go to public schools, not charters
Q: How do you feel about the concept of charter schools?A: I know that is a question I get from everybody. Charter schools, in terms of education, are not going to be the panacea. But I always believe that if you're using public moneys, they should go
to public schools to serve the public. That's why I push innovation zones more than anything. It is a group coming together to say, "This is how we want to conduct our education.".
Q: What would you do to reverse this alarming dropout rate in West
Virginia?
A: A couple of years ago, we had a system where social workers would make the phone call [about truancy]. It is no longer funded. We have to put most of our budget into education. Because we're either going to pay for it now or we're going to
pay for it later. Even when we talk about education, too, we have wonderful vo-tech schools here across West Virginia. We have wonderful community and technical colleges and trade schools. Those are aspects where we can keep kids in schools.
Source: The Register-Herald: West Virginia gubernatorial profiles
Apr 25, 2011
Pat McGeehan:
Vouchers to send children to any school
Q: Do you support the national Common Core State Standards initiative?A: No.
Q: Do you support a merit pay system for teachers?
A: Yes.
Q: Is the tenure process for public school teachers producing effective teachers?
A: No.
Q: Should parents be allowed to use vouchers to send their children to any school?
A: Yes.
Q: Do you support state funding for charter schools?
A: Yes.
Q: Do you support the state government providing college students with financial aid?
A: No.
Q: hould illegal immigrants who graduate from West Virginia high schools be eligible for in-state tuition at public universities?
A: No.
McGeehan adds, "Government needs to remove itself from education."
Source: West Virginia Election 2012 Political Courage Test
Nov 1, 2012
Paula Jean Swearengin:
Free college or trade school to all qualified students
Provide a tuition-free education to qualified students at all public universities, colleges, and trade schools. If we want to rebuild our economy and encourage innovation in America, we need a highly-educated and highly-skilled workforce.
Saddling students with debt is not only destructive to students' futures, it also slows and depresses our economy.
Source: 2018 West Virginia Senate campaign website PaulaJean2018.com
Jul 17, 2017
Paula Jean Swearengin:
Ensure adequate funding; encourage best practices
A range of best practices covering teaching methods, teacher training and school discipline have been demonstrated to work. Participating districts will receive funding along with management training and teacher training.
From the start a federal grant program will ensure all districts receive adequate funding regardless of their local property tax base.
Source: 2018 West Virginia Senate campaign website PaulaJean2018.com
Jul 17, 2017
Paula Jean Swearengin:
Free state colleges, community colleges, trade schools
Education and economic development go hand in hand. Our communities need great and well-paid teachers, doctors, scientists and entrepreneurs.
Our campaign supports tuition free state colleges, community colleges and trade schools. West Virginians beginning their careers shouldn't have to start with the burden of massive debt.
Source: 2020 West Virginia Senate campaign website PaulaJean.com
Jul 6, 2020
Paula Jean Swearengin:
Supports federal subsidies in childcare
As a mother of four, Paula Jean understands the burden of the cost of childcare. She supports federal subsidies in childcare, so parents no longer have to choose between the cost of keeping a job and putting food on the table.
She also understands that we must improve pre-K as well as K-12 education opportunities for all of our youth and help our children gain an education that will help prepare them for a 21st century workforce.
Source: 2020 West Virginia Senate campaign website PaulaJean.com
Jul 6, 2020
Richard Ojeda:
Outspoken support for teachers during strike
Ojeda had blasted lawmakers about the 1% raise and introduced several other bills with the teachers in mind. One gave teachers a tax break for buying classroom supplies; another aimed to stabilize health care premiums for public employees; a third
gave public employees a $5,000 raise over three years. The bills never passed, but Ojeda did advocate for teachers during the strike, giving speeches outside the Capitol and on the Senate floor, and voted for the final bill that ended the strike.
Source: Vox.com on 2020 West Virginia Senate race
May 9, 2018
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
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
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
Page last updated: Feb 18, 2023