Issue Position: Championing Our Schools

Issue Position

I have two kids in public schools. I know firsthand that education is the most important responsibility of state government.

I also know that for too long the state didn't make education our highest priority. Our schools are not as good as they could be. We have let classroom sizes get too big. 25% of high school kids don't graduate. We don't always recruit and retain the highest quality teachers.

I know we can do better. Not just because the Supreme Court in their McCleary decision is telling us to, but because it is the right thing to do.

I am proud of my legislation HB 2519 that is helping kids in our child welfare system access quality early learning programs. All children deserve the opportunity to excel--not just get by. But our most vulnerable--those in the child welfare system--are barely even getting by.

Each year we are taking steps to improve education, but next year is when we must meet our McCleary obligation and finally fully-fund our public schools.

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