Issue Position: Education

Issue Position

Every child in Connecticut deserves an equal shot at the starting line of life, to get a good job, raise a strong family, and be an active citizen. As a parent of three, volunteer teacher in Bridgeport, and professor at CCSU, I know that means high-quality early childhood education, great public schools, and affordable college or university.

Most of our children receive an excellent education-and enter adulthood equipped with the tools to succeed. Others, however, never benefit from the opportunities our education system offers so many. Connecticut has the nation's widest achievement gap between rich and poor students, and it is chiefly because our urban areas trail so far behind our towns.

The consequences of this extend beyond our cities. With some of Connecticut's youngest populations, our cities are raising the 21st century workforce. And our state's prosperity has always depended on the quality of our workforce-one of the world's most educated. Connecticut's future rests on the success of our urban students.

What we need is leadership, something that has been lacking for too long. As governor, I will provide just that. Together with teachers, parents, and administrators, I will improve education from cradle to career.

* I will start by asking for the resignation of the state boards of education and higher education: the members can get their jobs back, but only by showing me they will be part of the solution. While many members are excellent, others are mere partisan appointees. The good will stay, and the others I will replace with education experts.

* I will strongly support early childhood education programs like School Readiness that target the children most in need.

* I will make sure our teacher prep programs give future educators lots of hands-on experience in the classroom, and I will hold these programs accountable for training effective teachers, as other states are beginning to do. I will also create an independent teacher certification board to maintain the highest professional standards.

* I will ensure student achievement is one of multiple aspects of teacher evaluation. Scores matter, but they're far from the whole picture: for instance, teachers shouldn't be on the hook for children who arrive in class just a few months before testing, as so many of my students at Harding High did.

* I will encourage districts facing challenges to collaborate with teachers and parents to change school schedules, calendars, and instruction methods-longer school days, for instance, may help raise student achievement.

* For chronically underperforming schools, we will work with parents, teachers, and administrators to restructure schools under proven models, such as CommPACT schools.

* I will support community schools that provide children and families with wrap-around health, mental health, and other services and serve as true centers of the community.

* I will support vo-tech schools and bolster school-to-work programs. Rather than closing schools like Wright Tech, I'll make sure we have skilled trade workers to install solar panels, build high-speed rail, and power our 21st century economy.

* I will ensure community colleges, universities, and businesses work together on curricula and internships, so students graduate with the skills to land a great job.

* I will create a full loan repayment program for students at state colleges and universities who study high-demand fields like renewable energy and stay in state after graduation.

Better Schools for Better Jobs
Introduction

Every child in Connecticut deserves an equal shot at the starting line of life, to get a good job, raise a strong family, and be an active citizen. As a parent of three, volunteer teacher in Bridgeport, and professor at CCSU, I know that means high-quality early childhood education, great public schools, and affordable college or university.

Most of our children receive an excellent education-and enter adulthood equipped with the tools to succeed. Others, however, never benefit from the opportunities our education system offers so many. Connecticut has the nation's widest achievement gap between rich and poor students,1 and it is chiefly because our urban areas trail so far behind our wealthier towns.

The consequences of this extend beyond our cities. With some of Connecticut's youngest populations, our cities are raising the 21st century workforce. And our state's prosperity has always depended on the quality of our workforce-one of the world's most educated. Connecticut's future rests on the success of our urban students.

What we need is leadership, something that has been lacking for too long. As governor, I will ask for the resignation of the state boards of education and higher education: the members can get their jobs back, but only by showing me they will be part of the solution. While many members are excellent, others are mere partisan appointees. The good will stay, and the others I will replace with education experts.

I will also breathe new life into the Department of Education by bringing in the best talent-people of all stripes, from the public and private sectors. Together with teachers and administrators, we will improve education from cradle to career, from pre-K to graduate school. We will create a seamless P-20 system, and we will involve parents and whole communities intimately in reform and in their children's education.
Early Childhood Education

Early childhood education is a fantastic investment: one study found an $8 return for every $1 spent.2 By making sure children are ready for their first day of kindergarten, we can close the achievement gap before it starts. While we can't afford to offer universal access right now, we can target those most at risk of starting school unprepared, with the ultimate goal of making quality early childhood education universal.

* I will strongly support early childhood education programs like School Readiness that target the children most in need.
* I will collect clear, comprehensive data on children entering kindergarten so we can know where, when, and how much preschool each child received.
* Armed with this information, I will build a first-class quality rating system for preschools, holding programs accountable and helping moms and dads choose where to send their children.

K-12 Education

For too long, the Governor has failed to lead on education. Facing this leadership vacuum, Connecticut came in 25th in the recent Race to the Top competition,3 which could have brought nearly $200 million to our state's schools.4

Fortunately, reformers and educators responded and came together to pass a key reform bill that makes many of the changes we need. The bill toughens graduation standards, makes student performance one of multiple aspects of teacher evaluation, upgrades the state's ability to track student achievement, and gives local communities and the state more flexibility in turning around underperforming schools.5

As governor, I will lead the implementation of reforms-I'll demand hard data on what works and move quickly on good ideas. I know every community is different-that is why I will set goals and ask cities and towns to find the best way to meet them. Not every town needs major reforms like New Haven's, but its collaborative framework is a model. All reforms, state and local, will be subject to rigorous evaluation to determine whether they advance four main goals:

1. We must have the finest teachers. We will attract, train, and keep the best talent and support teachers in furthering their professional careers.
2. We must provide appropriate state support for towns and cities. We will make sure that despite tough economic times, our children have the resources to learn.
3. We must pursue innovation. We will encourage principals and administrators to collaborate with parents and teachers to implement innovative reforms.
4. We must have world-class standards. To compete in the global economy, our children must be equipped with the right tools-that means strong literacy and a first-rate background in math, science, and other areas.

1. We Must Have the Finest Teachers

We must ensure Connecticut's teachers remain the very finest. They shape our children's futures-and I will settle for nothing less than the best. We will attract and train a new generation of top-notch teachers, hold them to high standards, and provide them tools to develop their skills further.

* I will make sure our teacher prep programs give future educators lots of hands-on experience in the classroom, and I will hold these programs accountable for training effective teachers, as other states are beginning to do.6 I will also create an independent teacher certification board to maintain the highest professional standards.
* I will ensure student achievement is one of multiple aspects of teacher evaluation. Scores matter, but they're far from the whole picture: for instance, teachers shouldn't be on the hook for children who arrive in class just a few months before testing, as so many of my students at Harding High did.
* I will help teachers develop their careers by gaining skills that boost classroom effectiveness-that means promoting additional schooling, mentoring programs, and greater opportunity for professional development.

2. We Must Provide Appropriate State Support for Towns and Cities

In these difficult economic times, it is more important than ever that we provide appropriate support for local schools. Yet the state's contribution to local education has dwindled and now relies on $270 million in federal stimulus funds that dry up next year.7 The current course leads straight off a cliff.

* I will work with the legislature and municipalities to close the gap left by expiring stimulus funds. We cannot balance the budget on the backs of our children.
* I will help school districts save money by allowing them to pool together to buy health insurance and by encouraging smart regionalization efforts like sharing duplicative back-office functions.
* Over the longer run, I will attack the funding problem at its root by bringing jobs and business back to Connecticut. Rather than fight over an ever-shrinking economic pie, I will grow the economy. More taxpayers, not more taxes-that should be our aim.

3. We Must Pursue Innovation

To achieve real gains in student achievement, we will implement innovative reforms, as community schools and charters like Amistad Academy have done. At the same time, we will provide prompt feedback on those reforms, so we can hone in quickly on what works. This doesn't mean just end-of-year adjustments: good information can allow teachers to alter lesson plans from one week to another, to help students learn now.

* I will change the culture at the Department of Education, filling it with the most talented leaders, upgrading data systems, and combining the two to drive reform efforts. As a CEO, I know first-hand the value of having the best people and information.
* I will encourage districts facing challenges to collaborate with teachers and parents to change school schedules, calendars, and instruction methods-longer school days, for instance, may help raise student achievement.8
* For chronically underperforming schools, we will work with parents, teachers, and administrators to restructure schools under proven models, such as CommPACT and Innovation schools.
* I will support community schools that provide children and families wrap-around health, mental health, and other services and serve as true centers of the community.

4. We Must Have World-Class Standards

If our children are to compete in the 21st century economy, we must educate them to 21st century standards. After Sputnik, America embarked on a math and science crusade, and our scientists and engineers changed the world-think of the progress we've seen over the last 50 years. That is what happens when we refuse to settle for good enough and demand nothing short of the best.

* I will make sure we give our children the skills they need to compete. That means strong literacy and world-class backgrounds in math, science, and other areas. The National Governors Association Common Core Standards, accepted by 48 states including Connecticut, will be our starting point.9
* I will strongly support vo-tech schools. Rather than closing Wright Tech, I'll make sure we have skilled workers to install solar panels, build high-speed rail, and power our 21st century economy. We must provide appropriate funding for the schools sending much-needed engineering students to our colleges and universities.

College

Everyone should be able to afford college. It is not just a matter of opportunity: college is a smart investment. Government nets about $500,000 per degree over the life of a college grad, and the average B.A. nets double the earnings of someone with just a high school diploma.10

* I will work to create smooth transitions between high school and college. That means aligning high school curricula with state college admissions standards and fostering collaboration between universities and high schools to make sure kids are caught up before they start college.
* I will ensure community colleges, universities, and businesses work together on curricula and internships, so students graduate with the skills to land a great job. Covidien, a high-tech manufacturer in North Haven, hires for well-paying jobs right here, at local community colleges and universities.
* I will support advanced research and foster collaboration between our universities and hospitals, like the stem cell research being done by UConn and Yale. Our universities and hospitals can be magnets for hundreds of millions in research dollars, employing thousands of people and launching hundreds of cutting-edge companies.
* I will create a full loan repayment program for students at state colleges and universities who study high-demand fields like renewable energy and stay in state after graduation.

Conclusion

The next governor will have the chance to transform our education system, to ensure every child is prepared for the global economy. To make these changes, it will take a strong leader who can bring all stakeholders to the table. As a businessman, a parent, and a teacher, I know how to do precisely that.

It will also take strong parents and strong communities. Together, we must make sure students immerse themselves in math, science, and the other areas quickly defining 21st century literacy. We must turn the tide towards college and career by reducing dropout rates and boosting achievement. We must ensure students graduate college prepared for cutting-edge careers. More learning will mean better jobs for Connecticut families.

We can't do everything tomorrow, or even in four years-but we can accomplish a great deal, and set a course to achieve even more. In short order, we can improve parents' preschool choices, pursue creative school reforms, and offer easier college loan repayment. In a few more years, we can see higher achievement, lower dropout rates, and better jobs. It's time we hit the books.

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