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Jay Inslee on Education

Democratic WA Governor; Former Rep/ (WA-1); withdrew from Presidential primary Aug. 2019

 


Prioritize early childhood education

We've provided funding for every child to have all-day kindergarten. Every single child deserves a great education in our public schools. We've reduced class sizes in our kindergarten-through-third grade classrooms. And because we know a high-quality teacher is the single most important asset in every classroom, we provided funding for more teacher mentoring opportunities, especially for new teachers. And we were able to provide them with a cost-of-living adjustment -- the first since 2008.
Source: 2016 State of the State speech to Washington legislature ,

Increase teacher salary to help recruit and retain

To recruit and retain teachers, my plan would raise their beginning salary, from just under $36,000 to $40,000 per year. Then, to help make all teacher salaries more competitive, my plan also provides a minimum 1 percent raise to all other teachers. I propose we pay for it through elimination of some tax breaks whose benefits simply do not outweigh our obligations to our students, to our teachers and to our schools.
Source: 2016 State of the State speech to Washington legislature ,

Cut college tuition; provide assistance to neediest

One of the things we've done is we've reduced tuition. We haven't cut it in half, but we've reduced it. We have dramatically increased access to financial aid, and we've done it in a really smart way. We've probably 20 percent or 30 percent increase eventually we will have as to the number of students who are getting financial aid. We have targeted the financial aid to those who were really most in the need, which are the lower, you know, quintile or quartile of our students. And we've given them not just free tuition, but we've given them the full meal deal You have to be able to eat when you're going to school and you have to be able to buy books and take care of your transportation needs.
Source: CNN Town Hall: 2020 presidential hopefuls , Apr 10, 2019

Apprenticeships & college aid leads to jobs

My budget will provide 100,000 students over the next 10 years an option to dive into their interests through apprenticeships and paid internships. We're also supporting future students who want more education but can't afford it. The Washington College Promise is our new statewide free college program that guarantees state financial aid to eligible students. We did this because a student's financial challenges should not stand in the way of the pursuit of their dreams.
Source: 2019 State of the State address to Washington legislature , Jan 15, 2019

Four-year degree isn't the only path to success

We have to stop telling our children that a four-year degree is the only path to success. That simply is not true. Let's leave a legacy of opportunity for all our students by expanding career-connected learning. During a study mission to Switzerland last year, our delegation saw a truly remarkable apprenticeship system stemming from a robust partnership with business, labor, and academia. There is no reason our own students cannot have better access to those same opportunities here in Washington.
Source: 2018 Washington State of the State address , Jan 9, 2018

Create non-religious charter schools as open alternatives

Excerpts from legislation: Bill on CHARTER PUBLIC SCHOOLS: