Across the nation, governors are delivering State of the State addresses and budget proposals that outline a bold vision for education.
During his State of the State address, Governor Mike Dunleavy reaffirmed his commitment to improving early literacy by creating summer camps to boost reading skills and establishing a temporary “Governor’s Office of Reading Instruction” to ensure federal relief money is properly targeted at improving reading scores.
Governor Dunleavy also prioritized maintaining education funding in his budget proposal, despite the economic challenges of the pandemic.
Governor Ducey released his Arizona Resilient Plan and budget where he made significant investments in early literacy, education opportunities and rural broadband. Highlights include:
Read our blog post for more information.
Governor Asa Hutchinson touted Arkansas’ role as a national leader in computer science education during his State of the State address and proposed to make computer science a graduation requirement and train more teachers to meet the demand. Governor Hutchinson announced his FY 2022 budget will see the largest increase in public school funding in a decade.
Governor Ron DeSantis released his proposed budget recommendations. The $22 billion education budget includes a $132 increase to both the base student allocation, as well as:
Read the statement from Patricia Levesque, Executive Director of the Foundation for Florida’s Future.
“School choice shouldn’t be limited to those who have the financial means or are lucky to live in a district that’s confident enough to allow open enrollment. So let’s make choice an option for everyone.
“We can do that by making open enrollment available in all districts and by allowing our communities more flexibility to create public charter schools where there is a need for an alternative. And we should create education savings accounts for students who are trapped in a failing school; let’s give them another choice by making sure money isn’t their barrier.”
Governor Kim Reynolds
During the Condition of the State address, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds highlighted investments in several areas to address the challenges of the pandemic on education, including broadband infrastructure, educational opportunities and work-based learning, as well as maintaining public school funding levels to support all Iowa students.
Read our blog post for more information.
“My ‘Building Idaho’s Future’ plan recommends investments in literacy – my highest priority in education. We must ensure this school year is an anomaly – not a permanent system-wide flaw for Idaho’s students in the next decade or more. We must make sure all young students are on track to read by the end of the third grade.”
Governor Brad Little
In his State of the State address and budget proposal, Governor Brad Little recommended strong early literacy, college and career pathway and broadband infrastructure supports.
Highlights include:
Read our blog post for more information.
“I’m passionate about putting Indiana’s first Secretary of Education, Dr. Katie Jenner, on the road to success by moving the focus on ‘compliance’ to the focus on ‘outcomes’ with an emphasis on lifelong learning opportunities.
Dr. Jenner will be evaluating ways to expand early learning, and ways to improve on the accountability and transparency fronts, we’ll examine virtual learning, especially with all of the adjustments that COVID has forced.”
Governor Eric Holcomb
Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb unveiled his 2021 budget and legislative agenda to continue taking the state to the “Next Level” despite the added challenges of the pandemic.
Governor Holcomb remains committed to ensuring that K-12 schools receive 100 percent of their funding for the second half of the school year. He will also work to increase K-12 funding in the next biennial budget and at a minimum restore higher education funding cut in the last fiscal year due to the impact of the pandemic. Governor Holcomb and Lieutenant Governor Suzanne Crouch are also committed to investing in broadband infrastructure over the next four years.
Read our blog post for more information.
In his Fiscal Year 2022 budget proposal, Governor Hogan prioritized record state funding for K-12 education to help schools cover additional pandemic-related expenses, as well as an increased investment in scholarships for economically disadvantaged students.
Highlights include:
Read our blog post for more information.
“We must continue to invest in the next generation of Nebraskans so they can access educational opportunities that can help them achieve their dreams.”
Governor Pete Ricketts
During his State of the State address, Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts unveiled his 2021-2023 budget priorities to continue moving the state forward and overcome the challenges of the pandemic, including increased education funding, education opportunity and broadband connectivity.
Read our blog post for more information.
“We have a chance to rethink and reimagine the future of education in Oklahoma. It’s time for schools to be funded based on how many students they have now – not how many they had in the past.”
Governor Kevin Stitt
In his State of the State address, Governor Kevin Stitt prioritized updating the education funding formula to better reflect current enrollment numbers, instead of the highest number in the past three years. Real time funding will allow dollars to follow and support students at the school of their choice.
Governor Henry McMaster included several student-centered policies in his budget to confront the education challenges from the global pandemic.
Highlights of Governor McMaster’s proposals include:
Read the statement from Josh Thomas, ExcelinEd in Action Legislative Affairs Director.
“The most important investment we can make this year is to finish connecting the state to broadband… We must make sure our people can harness the latest technology to take advantage of what has become the modern equivalent of a post road… It tangibly improves the lives of our students by making it possible to do schoolwork at home.”
Governor Kristi Noem
Governor Kristi Noem proposed a significant investment in broadband infrastructure to close the digital divide, as well as an increase in state funding for K-12 education to help schools cover additional expenses brought on by the pandemic.
Highlights include:
Read our blog post for more information.
