Leading the Way in Education
Democratic governors have been bold and innovative leaders in improving our nation’s schools. In 2005, governors brought sensible solutions to previously intractable problems in early childhood education and development. They expanded access to preventative healthcare in schools, began the process of reforming the American high school to better prepare graduates for the workforce or college, and expanded access to colleges and technical schools. They also created new efficiencies in testing, reformed how schools are run, and expanded teacher recruitment to get the best and brightest to teach our next generation.
At least six Democratic governors have established comprehensive programs to expand pre-kindergarten and early childhood development programs. For example, Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack created “Iowa Strong Start,” a $21 million program to encourage the state and local communities to work together to address the efficiency and effectiveness of early care in Iowa. And in the last year alone, Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell doubled Head Start funding to $30 million to provide pre-kindergarten education to an additional 2,200 children in the Commonwealth. Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano made voluntary all-day Kindergarten a priority in her state as she has fought to expand early education to low-income children. Keeping students healthy is an important part of improving their educational experience: In at least three states in 2005, Democratic governors expanded school-based healthcare programs. New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, for example, will place a school-based health care center in all 68 counties of New Mexico to provide critical medical and behavioral services to students, particularly in schools that are located in depressed areas. West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin III vowed to fight childhood obesity, type II diabetes, and heart disease in schools in his first year in office.
Oklahoma Gov. Brad Henry’s innovative “Achieving Classroom Excellence” program will encourage students to take a college-bound curriculum throughout their high school career, and to develop strong skills in mathematics and science. Former Virginia Gov. Mark Warner was a national leader in his attempts to reform the American high school. Countless states are using Virginia’s model of allowing students to access college courses while still in school and in encouraging students who are not planning to attend college receive technical certificates to prepare them for their careers. North Carolina Gov. Mike Easley created technology-themed high schools that aim to better prepare students using small schools, project- and problem-based learning, and cutting edge technology to support the curriculum.
In fact, at least nine states with Democratic governors moved to expand access to two- or four-year colleges and technical schools in 2005 alone. Delaware Gov. Ruth Ann Minner’s “Student Excellence Equals Degree” program will enable qualified high school seniors to pursue an associate’s degree without tuition. New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch and Maine Gov. John Baldacci expanded their state’s university or community college systems. Lynch also provided full tuition scholarships for the children of New Hampshire’s active duty soldiers.
The federal mandates that came from the federal “No Child Left Behind” law has forced governors to experiment with innovative testing and teacher development programs. Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich changed the way in which the state evaluates students for a more accurate rendering of their performance. Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm and Maine Gov. Baldacci changed high school performance tests to the ACT and SAT, respectively, to save the state money and give students another opportunity to expand their educations behind high school.
While governors have continued their focus on K-12 education they have also been open to try new ideas to solve problems outside the classroom door. Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius went to the private sector to to audit school efficiency and identify concrete ways schools can improve their effectiveness. Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle and Louisiana Gov. Kathleen B. Blanco pushed forward school choice, and charter school programs, respectively, to jumpstart the education systems in their states’ cities. And Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen implemented a statewide program to both recruit mid-career professionals to the teaching profession and expand the quality of math and science teachers in Tennessee.
Democratic governors have been bold and innovative leaders in improving our nation’s schools. In 2005, governors brought sensible solutions to previously intractable problems in early childhood education and development. They expanded access to preventative healthcare in schools, began the process of reforming the American high school to better prepare graduates for the workforce or college, and expanded access to colleges and technical schools. They also created new efficiencies in testing, reformed how schools are run, and expanded teacher recruitment to get the best and brightest to teach our next generation.
