Robert Bentley on Education

Though benefits will be cut, no teaching jobs will be lost

Only 10 charter schools; let local boards reject them

My first amendment limited the initial number of initial charter schools to ten, five for technical schools and five for local community schools. This initial limit would allow the state to test and evaluate the effectiveness o charter schools before implementing it statewide.

My second amendment gave local school boards sole authority on whether to establish charter schools in their communities, instead of the State Board of Education. I support maximizing local authority an providing increased flexibility to local school boards, and believe local communities can better assess their own needs than the State Board of Education.

I am not willing to fund an untested program in order to get "Race to the Top" money.

Supports moment-of-silence and teacher spanking law

Bentley indicates he supports the following principles concerning education:
• Support sex education programs which stress abstinence.
• Endorse a mandatory "moment of silence" after the pledge of allegiance in public schools.
• Support state-funded merit scholarships for Alabama students to attend college in Alabama.
• Q: Do you support the current law that allows teachers to spank a child as long as the teacher follows local school board policies?
  A: Yes.