Brian’s Vision for Georgia’s Education System

Ensure fair and reliable funding

Regardless of where a child lives, we must ensure that he or she is provided with a quality education.  In recent years, state funding cuts have shifted a larger share of the burden of K-12 education funding to local school systems.  The ability of local systems to absorb these increasing costs varies across the state and produces unequal opportunities for our children.  Furthermore, these cuts have been made as enrollment in Georgia’s public schools continues to grow. These actions of our state leaders raise serious questions about our commitment to Georgia’s children.  Funding for public education is an investment in our children’s future, and I will work tirelessly to reverse these troubling trends.

Invest in early childhood education

Over a decade ago, Georgia was in the forefront of early childhood education by establishing our prekindergarten program.  However, even as the body of research supporting such programs has grown, our efforts in this area have stalled.  We must continue to expand access to quality, state-funded prekindergarten programs, and I will support a renewed effort toward strengthening this commitment to the youngest of Georgia’s children.

Expand technical and vocational options

A traditional college education continues to be the dream of many of Georgia’s K-12 students and their parents—and we should help every student to make this dream a reality.  However, many students, parents, community and business leaders recognize that our public school system offers far too little in the way of technical and vocational training.  Many students struggle in school because they do not see the connection between the curriculum options offered and their own personal dreams for the future.  We must help every student find his or her own path to success.

Educators must be treated like professionals

In order for our public schools to attract the best and brightest to serve our children, teachers must be treated like professionals.  This means that those who are in the classroom everyday working with our children must have a voice in the development of the policies that affect their profession.  Both NCLB’s deeply flawed focus on high stakes standardized tests and Georgia’s current math curriculum debacle are examples of education policy done wrong due to insufficient input from practicing classroom teachers.  I will fight to ensure that rank and file educators are given an opportunity to be a part of the education policymaking process.

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