State of Missouri Archives: on Education
Vicky Hartzler:
Introduced Police Officers Protecting Children Act
When a retired police officer attended his granddaughter's school music program in a rural part of Missouri, he realized it would take 45 minutes for law enforcement to respond in the case of emergency. He offered to volunteer to stand guard at future
events but was told a federal law forbid this. I introduced the Police Officers Protecting Children Act. When approved by local school authorities, a trained law enforcement officer would be able to serve as an armed guard to protect our kids.
Source: 2021 Missouri Senate campaign website VickyHartzler.com
Jul 9, 2021
Scott Sifton:
Fought for improved teacher pay and district facilities
Scott's career in public service has made an important difference across Missouri.
He fought for improved teacher pay and district facilities as a member of the Affton School Board from 2001 - 2010, serving two terms as Board President. Student test performance improved markedly over his tenure.
Source: 2021 Missouri Senate campaign website ScottSifton.com
Jun 29, 2021
Eric Schmitt:
Defended coach-led prayer in high school as voluntary
Eric defended the religious liberties of a Missouri high school football coach when his Constitutional right was assaulted by an extreme group. The coach was accused of violating the U.S. Constitution for leading his players in prayer.
Eric supported the coach's fight against the Freedom From Religion Foundation, making clear the actions of the coach did not violate the Constitution since no player was forced to participate.
Source: 2021 Missouri Senate campaign website SchmittForSenate.com
May 2, 2021
Lucas Kunce:
Universities rely on full-paying Chinese STEM students
Higher education is a competitive world, fueled by dollars and discoveries. Our legislatures have defunded higher education for years, and the universities need the full-paying tuition, the STEM students, and the research money that
America isn't providing them. So they get them from China. Which allows China to exploit our institutions and federal research funding to leapfrog us in key technologies like quantum computing.
Source: The American Prospect on 2022 Missouri Senate race
Dec 9, 2020
Mike Parson:
Cut education budget after COVID revenue shortfalls
Q: Increase K-12 public funding? Stand on higher ed funding?Mike Parson: No. Made cuts in state K-12 budget and higher ed to meet COVID-related shortfalls. "We've had to face the reality of the situation and make some extremely difficult decisions."
Nicole Galloway: Yes. Eliminate big business giveaways. Put more money in classrooms, pay teachers what they deserve, expand pre-kindergarten. Students deserve to pursue higher education without accruing mountains of debt.
Source: CampusElect survey on 2020 Missouri Gubernatorial race
Nov 3, 2020
Mike Parson:
Declared "Missouri School Choice Week"
Q: Use public funding for private and/or for-profit schools?Mike Parson: Yes. Declared week of Jan. 26 "Missouri School Choice Week" as a "nonpartisan" effort to shine a "positive spotlight on effective education options for students."
Nicole Galloway: No. Wants tighter oversight of charter schools. "Using tax $ to fund charter schools" weakens public schools. Will "strengthen the state's commitment to public schools."
Source: CampusElect survey on 2020 Missouri Gubernatorial race
Nov 3, 2020
Nicole Galloway:
Pay teachers what they deserve; expand pre-K
Q: Increase K-12 public funding? Stand on higher ed funding?Nicole Galloway: Yes. Eliminate big business giveaways. Put more money in classrooms, pay teachers what they deserve, expand pre-kindergarten. Students deserve to pursue higher education
without accruing mountains of debt.
Mike Parson: No. Made cuts in state K-12 budget and higher ed to meet COVID-related shortfalls. "We've had to face the reality of the situation and make some extremely difficult decisions."
Source: CampusElect survey on 2020 Missouri Gubernatorial race
Nov 3, 2020
Nicole Galloway:
Strengthen the state's commitment to public schools
Q: Use public funding for private and/or for-profit schools?Nicole Galloway: No. Wants tighter oversight of charter schools. "Using tax $ to fund charter schools" weakens public schools. Will "strengthen the state's commitment to public schools."
Mike Parson: Yes. Declared week of Jan. 26 "Missouri School Choice Week" as a "nonpartisan" effort to shine a "positive spotlight on effective education options for students."
Source: CampusElect survey on 2020 Missouri Gubernatorial race
Nov 3, 2020
Mike Parson:
Invest in advanced training in high demand areas
My budget calls for a total investment of nearly $75 million dollars into workforce development programs. I am advocating that we provide $22 million dollars to fund a program known as Fast Track. Fast Track will allow Missourians to receive advanced
training in high-demand areas largely taught at our community colleges, technical schools, and colleges and universities. This will open the doors for Missourians to have opportunities to earn more money for their hard work.
Source: 2020 Missouri State of the State address
Jan 15, 2020
Mike Kehoe:
Arts not a cure-all, but can give young people alternatives
Kehoe said arts are not a cure-all to social problems, "but it certainly does give, especially young people, some alternatives, and so it's important that we continue to try to promote what arts can do, especially in our school systems, to give
these young people alternatives" to things such as becoming absorbed in social media or running with "the wrong crowd.""And if they have some talents, it's a good time to start developing them," he added.
Source: Jefferson City News Tribune on 2022 Missouri Senate race
Dec 1, 2019
Mike Kehoe:
Fund higher education as long as they're producing
Kehoe said current Gov. Mike Parson is more supportive of funding higher education in an "appropriate manner.""I think those institutions should be accountable,"
Kehoe said. "We have a measurement system our higher education institutions all use. So I think as long as they're producing and we're not just pouring money into a bottomless pit, then that's fine."
Source: Northwest Missourian on 2022 Missouri Senate race
Nov 13, 2019
Mike Kehoe:
Bar schools reopening more than 14 days before Labor Day
In his first legislative session in the executive branch, the former Senate Majority Floor Leader successfully lobbied for a bill aimed at boosting tourism by barring schools from starting earlier than 14 days before Labor Day.
Local superintendents weren't happy about the idea, but tourism operators had lamented seeing more families ending vacations in early August and were excited about getting another summer weekend to make money.
Source: Springfield News-Leader on 2022 Missouri Senate race
Sep 26, 2019
Claire McCaskill:
Increase student financial aid, like Pell Grants
Q: Refinance student loans at lower rates, by raising high-earner taxes? Increase student financial aid, like Pell Grants?Josh Hawley (R): Unclear, but says universities waste billions of public funds and leave families with billions of debt,
giving students "worthless degrees" and indoctrinating them in far-left thinking.
Claire McCaskill (D): Yes. Co-sponsored Elizabeth Warren proposal to refinance student loans. Supports increasing Pell Grants.
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Missouri Senate race
Oct 9, 2018
Josh Hawley:
Give religious schools state educational resources
Q: Provide vouchers to send children to private schools with public money?Josh Hawley (R):
Has supported eligibility of religious schools for state resources. Position unclear on vouchers.
Claire McCaskill (D): No.
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Missouri Senate race
Oct 9, 2018
Josh Hawley:
Universities provide worthless degrees and waste billions
Q: Refinance student loans at lower rates, by raising high-earner taxes? Increase student financial aid, like Pell Grants?Josh Hawley (R): Unclear, but says universities waste billions of public funds and leave families with billions of debt,
giving students "worthless degrees" and indoctrinating them in far-left thinking.
Claire McCaskill (D): Yes. Co-sponsored Elizabeth Warren proposal to refinance student loans. Supports increasing Pell Grants.
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Missouri Senate race
Oct 9, 2018
Mike Parson:
$400M in bonds to repair college campuses
Parson proposed legislation that allowed $400 million in bonds to be used to repair college campuses and state buildings. The proposal covered roof repairs, additions for handicap accessibility and heating and cooling system repairs. Parson has also
questioned cuts to higher education. As senator, he criticized the proposed $7.6 million cut to the UM System in 2016. He also said that states should be careful about punishing universities through budget cuts since it could harm students.
Source: Columbia Missourian on 2018 Missouri Gubernatorial race
Feb 23, 2018
Tony Monetti:
Public schools that fail our kids do not deserve our support
As an educator, I want our country to produce the world's best-educated students, and well-trained workers. I support school choice.
If public schools are not helping students, doesn't it make sense to use tax dollars on private schools that work rather than on public schools that do not? Public schools that fail our kids do not deserve our support.
Source: Twitter posting on 2018 Missouri Senate race
Feb 18, 2018
Austin Petersen:
Open to experiment with school choice
Missouri Senators actually approved an education proposal in April that would allow tax credit education savings accounts for some students.
They would allow them to transfer away from low performing districts and schools. So, in Missouri actually they are looking at these kinds of programs so I think that it is palatable here.
Source: Southeast Arrow on 2018 Missouri Senatorial race
Nov 17, 2017
Angelica Earl:
More money for schools, less debt for students
The standards that are required to be met in order for schools to receive funding are inappropriate. Standardized testing and common core are showing to be failing our children. Education reform is needed.
Public colleges need to be publicly sponsored for all to attend without accruing debt. Student loans should not be a profit garnering system.
Source: 2018 Missouri Senatorial website AngelicaForMissouri.com
Sep 15, 2017
Josh Hawley:
Excluding religious school choice amounts to discrimination
In 2007, Jon Huntsman Jr., then the governor of Utah, signed a statewide school voucher program into law. The "Parent Choice in Education Act" enabled all children in the state to access a scholarship to attend any private school of their choosing.
Opponents of school choice decry the use of public money to fund private schools. There is a wrinkle: the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment and, more specifically for Missourians, the Blaine Amendment to the Missouri Constitution, which
stipulates that "no money shall ever be taken from the public treasury, directly or indirectly, in aid of any church, sect or denomination of religion."
In 2002, the Supreme Court ruled that excluding religious institutions from school choice programs
and funding amounted to discrimination. The court is currently weighing a challenge to Missouri's Blaine Amendment. Newly inaugurated Missouri Attorney General Josh Hawley insists, "Blaine Amendments cannot be allowed to trump the First Amendment."
Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch on 2018 Missouri Senate race
Jan 20, 2017
Chris Koster:
Increase our investment in education
Q: What are your top three priorities for Missouri?Chris Koster: First, we need to do more to stimulate economic development in Missouri through a comprehensive economic development bill.
Second, we need to increase our investment in education to keep our workforce globally competitive. Finally, we must protect our communities from crime through representative police forces and no leniency for criminals who use a gun.
Source: LWV's Vote411.org on 2016 Missouri Gubernatorial Race
Sep 19, 2016
John Brunner:
Reject federal Common Core standards
Put students first. Missouri students are not common. Therefore, we reject federal Common Core standards! Instead, we will fight for the standard of excellence that Missouri parents expect from our public schools. My Mission:- Stop Common Core.
-
Get Jefferson City Bureaucrats out of our public schools.
- Promote innovation in local school districts by providing more freedom and opportunity to institute new programs.
- Authorize charities and foundations to invest seed money in developing new
programs in partnerships with schools.
- Get children out of failing schools, and assist parents by giving them greater freedom to choose the best schools for their kids.
- Encourage merit programs that reward the best and most successful teachers.
-
Get back to the basics and ensure children graduate from high school with a solid foundation of Math, Science and English.
- Return the power to the parents and the local school boards.
- Give teachers the freedom to teach.
Source: 2016 Missouri gubernatorial campaign website JohnBrunner.com
May 10, 2016
Lester Turilli:
Let local school districts responsibly determine curriculum
Q: Your comments on the statement, "Vouchers for school choice"? A: Standingÿwith teachers in educational advances will improve our schools.ÿConstrictive attitudes toward teacher performance will not improve learning systems and test scores.
Educators should be given consistent expectations of teaching material and insight into assessment testing. Iÿstand behind local school districts responsibly determining the curriculum to be used to educate their students.
I support religious freedom and liberty for administrators, teachers, and students. We believe the Bible and Christianity should be an integral part of curriculum development for its literary content,
moral compass, and historical contribution to our nation and other world cultures. ÿ"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it" (Proverbs 22:6).
Source: Email interview on 2016 Missouri candidacy by OnTheIssues
Apr 25, 2016
Jay Nixon:
Affordable tuition is highest priority
In 2009, too many kids couldn't afford college--and those who did get a degree were saddled with too much debt.
But today, more kids are going to college, getting their degrees--all while taking on far less debt than the national average. We're talking thousands of dollars less.
This year, we will strengthen Missouri's position as a leader in college affordability and quality. First, my budget includes an additional $56 million in performance funding.
And with this historic investment, our public colleges and universities will once again freeze tuition for Missouri undergraduates.
Source: 2016 State of the State speech to Missouri legislature
Jan 20, 2016
Jay Nixon:
Fund public schools, don't develop voucher schemes
Even during the worst of the recession, we never backed away from our commitment to support our public schools. There were some who doubted whether our students and schools were up to the challenge, who said the new state standards were too
tough, too ambitious. I disagreed. I knew that if we raised our expectations, our students would rise to meet them. No gimmicks or voucher schemes--just great teachers, the right tools, strong communities, and a shared commitment to excellence.
Source: 2016 State of the State speech to Missouri legislature
Jan 20, 2016
Eric Greitens:
Strongly oppose Common Core; no bureaucrats in charge
WE CAN IMPROVE EDUCATION FOR ALL MISSOURIANS. I believe every child in Missouri has the right to a first-rate education. Too many Missouri children and parents are trapped in failing schools. I will lead efforts to provide more choices
and opportunities for kids who need it most. I strongly oppose "Common Core" and believe local parents and teachers--not Washington bureaucrats--should be in charge of our children's education.
Source: 2016 Missouri Governor campaign website EricGreitens.com
Oct 9, 2015
Chris Koster:
2007: Left GOP to support high-quality public schools
Chris felt an increasing distance from the influence of right wing extremism within the Republican Party. Attacks on medical research and middle class wages, coupled with a lack of support for high-quality public schools were out of step with
Chris's governing philosophy. In 2007, he made the decision to change his party in order to preserve his beliefs and joined the Democratic Party. One year later, he was elected Attorney General.
Source: 2016 Missouri gubernatorial campaign website ChrisKoster.com
Sep 9, 2015
Peter Kinder:
Fight for school choice & charter schools
Grow Educational Freedom: Peter will continue his fight for comprehensive educational reform, including school choice,
the spread of charter schools and opposition to federal overreach including Common Core.
Source: 2016 Missouri Gubernatorial campaign website PeterKinder.com
Sep 9, 2015
Jay Nixon:
Increase education funding by $150 million
We now have a unique opportunity to build a better future for our children. We must seize it. And nothing will have a greater impact on our children's future than the commitment we make now to their education.
So in my budget, we increase funding for education. And we increase it by $150 million.- That's $17 million more for early childhood education.
- That's $34 million more for higher education;
- And that's $100 million more for our K-12 classrooms
Our children are our first priority. They are Missouri's future. Of course, with increased funding, come higher expectations. We expect better test scores, better graduation rates, more college degrees and more
Missourians ready to compete for the best jobs in a global economy. We've all got to do better, and that means everybody: students and teachers; parents and principals; coaches and college presidents. Increased funding means increased accountability.
Source: 2013 State of the State Address to Missouri Legislature
Jan 28, 2013
Jay Nixon:
A+ scholarships: community college for every high schooler
My budget includes more than $75 million for our Access and Bright Flight scholarships. And it increases funding for our A+ scholarships, which cover tuition and fees at all our public community colleges.
To qualify for an A+ scholarship, high school students must keep their grades up, have excellent attendance, and stay out of trouble.Since I've been Governor, we've expanded the A+ program to 150 more schools.
But there are still schools that aren't part of the A+ program, so their students can't even apply for A+ scholarships.
That's unfair to these kids, and we're going to fix it.
This is the year we will expand our A+ scholarship program to every public high school in the state, so that every qualified student in this state has the opportunity to go to community college--tuition free.
Source: 2013 State of the State Address to Missouri Legislature
Jan 28, 2013
Jason Kander:
Expand charter schools to cities & poor-performing districts
Authorizing the Expansion of Charter Schools: Kander voted YEA on S.B. 576 on May 15, 2012; passed House 99-54-10; became law without Governor's signature, June 27, 2012Charter schools may be operated:- in a metropolitan/urban school district
(over 350,000 inhabitants);
- or in a school district that has been declared unaccredited or provisionally accredited by [poor] annual performance reports;
- or in a school district that has been fully-accredited if sponsored by the local school board.
- For fully-accredited schools, enrollment must exceed 1,550 students of which more than 35% of its student enrollment is able to enroll in
charter schools sponsored by the local board.
- District school boards which are currently sponsoring a charter school retain their authority regardless of the rules above.
Source: Missouri legislative voting records for S.B. 576
May 15, 2012
Jason Kander:
Expand charter schools, plus more sponsorship options
SB 576 Authorizes the Expansion of Charter Schools
Bill Passed House (99 - 54); Rep. Jason Kander voted YeaHighlights:- Authorizes the establishment of charter schools in school districts that meet at least 1 of the following criteria:
unaccredited; provisionally accredited; accredited districts, if the proposed charter school is sponsored by the local school board and is limited to 35% of the students in the school district.
- Authorizes any 2 year vocational or technical school to
Authorizes the State Board of Education to review sponsors every 3 years
- Requires the sponsor to annually review the charter school through established guidelines.
Source: VoteSmart synopsis of 2011-2012 Missouri voting records
May 15, 2012
Jay Nixon:
Allow expanding charter schools to poor-performing districts
Authorizing the Expansion of Charter Schools: S.B. 576 passed House 99-54-10 on May 15, 2012; became law without Governor's signature, June 27, 2012Charter schools may be operated:- in a metropolitan/urban school district
(over 350,000 inhabitants);
- or in a school district that has been declared unaccredited or provisionally accredited by [poor] annual performance reports;
- or in a school district that has been fully-accredited if sponsored by the local school board.
- For fully-accredited schools, enrollment must exceed 1,550 students of which more than 35% of its student enrollment is able to enroll in
charter schools sponsored by the local board.
- District school boards which are currently sponsoring a charter school retain their authority regardless of the rules above.
Source: Missouri legislative voting records for S.B. 576
May 15, 2012
Sarah Steelman:
More competition in college loans; end federal monopoly
The candidates also were asked about their stance on the federal student loan interest rate, which will double to 6.8% on July 1 without Congressional action.Steelman said she would have to take a closer look at the proposal but said she supported
more competition in the sector because "the federal government has a monopoly now on student loans."
Brunner didn't answer whether he would support keeping the rates at their lower level but said the whole college finance system needed a "fresh look."
Akin said the government should be out of the student loan market
altogether. "America has got the equivalent of the stage three cancer of socialism because the federal government is tampering in all kinds of stuff it has no business tampering in," he said.
Source: Columbia Daily Tribune on 2012 Missouri Senate debate
Apr 22, 2012
Todd Akin:
Federal government should be out of the student loan market
The candidates also were asked about their stance on the federal student loan interest rate, which will double to 6.8% on July 1 without Congressional action.Akin said the government should be out of the student loan market altogether. "America
has got the equivalent of the stage three cancer of socialism because the federal government is tampering in all kinds of stuff it has no business tampering in," he said.
Steelman said she would have to take a closer look at the proposal
but said she supported more competition in the sector because "the federal government has a monopoly now on student loans."
Brunner didn't answer whether he would support keeping the rates at their lower level but said the whole college finance system needed a "fresh look."
Source: Columbia Daily Tribune on 2012 Missouri Senate debate
Apr 22, 2012
Bob Holden:
More resources for student and teachers
The best way we can invest in Missouri’s future is by opening new educational opportunities for our children. Education must be our number one priority. The cornerstones of my plan to improve education include: adequate resources,
quality teachers, parental involvement, accountability, technology, and a safe environment where students are ready to learn. That task begins by ensuring that Missouri teachers and students have the resources they need to improve performance.
Source: 2001 State of the State speech in Missouri House Chambers
Jan 30, 2001
Bob Holden:
Cash incentive for National Board Certification for teachers
We must encourage our teachers to strengthen their skills, through the National Board Certification program. To receive this certification, teachers go through a rigorous one-year evaluation and examination period. They must demonstrate a mastery
of advanced national standards in their subject area. Typically, this process involves more than 200 hours of after school work from teachers. Less than one out of two teachers successfully complete the program the first time; [so far] we only have 44
teachers [certified] in the entire state. I want to see one thousand teachers [certified] in our state over the next four years of my administration. I am recommending a $5,000 annual salary supplement for any Missouri teacher
who completes this program. And those who agree to help mentor other Missouri teachers for certification would receive a ten percent salary supplement.
Source: 2001 State of the State speech in Missouri House Chambers
Jan 30, 2001
Bob Holden:
Provide parents with school accountability report cards
Unfortunately, many parents don’t have a full and accurate picture of how well their child is doing at school as compared to children at other public schools. I want to give Missouri parents that picture by establishing school accountability report cards
This action will go one step beyond our present requirement for school district report cards, so parents will know exactly what is happening at their child’s individual school. Parents will receive information on classroom conditions, the professional
qualifications of their child’s teachers, class size, graduation and dropout rates, school safety, and a report on how their tax dollars are being spent. They will be able to find even more extensive information at the school and on the Internet. By
holding schools accountable in this way, parents and taxpayers can compare the evaluation of their school with other schools in the area. School report cards will also be useful to other schools--pointing out successful school strategies and practices.
Source: 2001 State of the State speech in Missouri House Chambers
Jan 30, 2001
Catherine Hanaway:
State-funded vouchers for public & private schools
Hanaway indicated support for the following principles regarding education.- Encourage private or corporate investment in public school programs.
- Provide parents with state-funded vouchers to send their children to any participating school
(public, private, religious).
- Favor charter schools where independent groups receive state authorization and funding to establish new schools.
- Support sex education programs which stress abstinence.
Source: Missouri Legislative 1998 National Political Awareness Test
Nov 1, 1998
Nancy Farmer:
Supports charter schools and privately-run schools
Principles which Farmer supports regarding education: - Encourage private or corporate investment in certain public school programs.
- Implement charter schools where teachers and other professionals receive state authorization and funding to
establish new schools.
- Require the use of state-wide achievement standards for all state public schools.
- Emphasize local control of education as long as the school district meets state health and safety standards.
Source: 1996 Missouri National Political Awareness Test
Jul 2, 1996
Page last updated: Oct 13, 2021