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Tom Ridge on Education

Secretary of Homeland Defense; Former Republican Governor (PA)


More standards, and make them clear

On education, Ridge got $132 million to spend on computers in schools in 1995. In 1996 he got reform of teacher tenure and sabbaticals. He set up an advisory commission to produce rigorous standards that were so comprehensible that “parents can hang them on the refrigerator door and discuss them with their children. No jargon, no buzz words, no educational fads.”
Source: National Journal, the Almanac of American Politics Jan 28, 2000

Teacher-led voluntary prayer is OK

Source: Vote-smart 1998 Pennsylvania NPAT Jul 2, 1998

State-wide student testing; teacher re-certification

Source: Vote-smart 1998 Pennsylvania NPAT Jul 2, 1998

More charters; push for school choice

In 1997 he got the legislature to create more charter schools. By a narrow margin, Ridge’s proposal for school choice failed in the legislature in his first term; he pressed again for choice in May 1999.
Source: National Journal, the Almanac of American Politics Jan 28, 2000

Vouchers for private & religious schools

Source: Vote-smart 1998 Pennsylvania NPAT Jul 2, 1998

Other governors on Education: Tom Ridge on other issues:
AK Frank Murkowski
AL Bob Riley
AR Mike Huckabee
AZ Janet Napolitano
CA Arnold Schwarzenegger
CO Bill Owens
CT Jodi Rell
DE Ruth Ann Minner
FL Jeb Bush
GA Sonny Perdue
HI Linda Lingle
IA Tom Vilsack
ID Dirk Kempthorne
IL Rod Blagojevich
IN Mitch Daniels
KS Kathleen Sebelius
KY Ernie Fletcher
LA Kathleen Blanco
MA Mitt Romney
MD Bob Ehrlich
ME John Baldacci
MI Jennifer Granholm
MN Tim Pawlenty
MO Matt Blunt
MS Haley Barbour
MT Brian Schweitzer
NC Mike Easley
ND John Hoeven
NE Dave Heineman
NH John Lynch
NJ Jon Corzine
NM Bill Richardson
NV Kenny Guinn
NY George Pataki
OH Bob Taft
OK Brad Henry
OR Ted Kulongoski
PA Ed Rendell
RI Don Carcieri
SC Mark Sanford
SD Mike Rounds
TN Phil Bredesen
TX Rick Perry
UT Jon Huntsman
VA Tim Kaine
VT Jim Douglas
WA Christine Gregoire
WI Jim Doyle
WV Joe Manchin III
WY Dave Freudenthal
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