On Education: Creigh’s not Ready for the Next Grade
Creigh’s Record Gets an “F”
His “Proposals” Get Him Sent to Principal’s Office for Cheating
FACT CHECK
Creigh Deeds: A Record of Slashing Education Funding
K-12
- The Governor’s budget addenda reduced general funds for direct aid to public education by $108.2 million in FY 2009 and $583.6 million in FY 2010.
- Deeds voted for the House and Senate version(http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?091+vot+SV0974HB1600+HB1600)
- That means in just one year Creigh Deeds voted for reducing funding for Virginia’s public schools by $691.8 million
Colleges and Universities
- In 2008, Deeds voted to support amendments to SB 30 (The Governor’s budget) by the Senate Finance Committee which reduced funding for higher education by approximately $55.0 million.
- Specifically, the amendments targeted higher education research ($16.8 million cut), base operating support ($21.5 million cut), $1.7 million reduction to Southside and Southwest Virginia Higher Education Centers, and $14.0 million dollar reduction for college faculty pay raises, lowering the Governor’s proposal from 3% to 2.5%. (http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?081+vot+SV0546SB0030+SB0030, http://leg2.state.va.us/WebData/08amend30.nsf/SFC%20Sec?OpenForm&Start=1&Count=200&Expand=8&Seq=1, http://leg2.state.va.us/WebData/08amend30.nsf/cd4376ddc083c24a8525688b005f54ae/242cf2d81c8037c0852573f4004c19dd?OpenDocument
FACT CHECK
Creigh Deeds Education Proposals: Sneaking a Peek at McDonnell’s Desk
A Point by Point look at the “Me Too” Candidate in Action
Deeds Today - Put more Money in the Classroom by spending education dollars more efficiently
McDonnell (last week) - The McDonnell/Bolling plan focuses on putting more education dollars directly into the classroom. Currently, only 61% of Virginia education dollars go to the classroom. By shifting money from the central office and administration and increasing the percentage of funding that goes directly to the classroom by an average of 4%, the McDonnell/Bolling administration will direct an additional $480 million each year to Virginia’s teachers and students.
Deeds Today - Establish bulk purchase program to buy school supplies in bulk across local school divisions.
McDonnell (in VEA survey from April) - “I believe that there is too much money spent on administration and regulation rather than pooling together our resources to save time and money. In k-12 there are many opportunities to pool together resources to decrease costs and administration. Some districts have already consolidated human resources, procurement and accounting but there are other areas such as maintenance facilities or IT department that could be combined to save school districts money. Also some small systems are joining to buy buses and large purchases, but the reality is that this could be done to buy everything from paper to computers to get more money in the classrooms.”
Deeds Today - ensure that every Virginia high school student graduates with the skills for college or a 21st century Job
McDonnell (Policy Rollouts in June and August) - Part 2 of “Educational Opportunity and Excellence - Preparing Virginia Children for 21st Century Jobs” Plan June 4th:http://www.bobmcdonnell.com/index.php/press_releases/details/mcdonnell_unveils_part_two_of_education_reform_plan/ Part 3: Put “Virginia First” - Announces Proposals to help Virginians Become America’s Best Prepared and Well Paid Workforce on August 4: http://www.bobmcdonnell.com/index.php/press_releases/details/mcdonnell_put_virginia_first/
Deeds Today - Set Readiness Standards
McDonnell: August 4th - Virginia currently participates in the National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC). The Career Readiness Certificate (CRC) is part of a statewide initiative to provide jobseekers with portable skills credentials that are industry-relevant and industry-recognized. A Career Readiness Certificate gives employers’ confidence that the jobseeker has the level of skills needed to perform for given occupations.
The CRC is a credential that reflects an individual’s skills as they are required across many industries and occupations; examples include reading for information, locating information and applied mathematics. Virginia’s multi-level approach to career readiness certificates affords a plan for individuals to improve their skill over time via work experience or additional training, which may be industry or occupation specific.
From the employer’s perspective, CRCs reduce information costs and uncertainty associated with finding and hiring qualified applicants; this reduces employer’s costs of hiring and improves their productivity.
From the CRC jobseekers’ perspective, holding a CRC improves the efficiency with which they can convey their skills to prospective employers
From the state’s perspective, the CRC initiative helps regions support businesses in their efforts to employ the best and the brightest for their vacant job openings.
We will seek to expand the integration of the CRC with existing educational programs and expand the number of citizens, from high school students to dislocated workers, attaining CRC bronze, silver and gold status.
http://www.bobmcdonnell.com/index.php/press_releases/details/mcdonnell_put_virginia_first/
Deeds Today- Update Virginia standards and assessments to incorporate more 21st century skills
McDonnell: August 4 - We will work with leaders in education, workforce, and economic development side-by-side with businesses to provide every community access to learning academies - with the goal of doubling the number of academies during Bob’s term as Governor. All Virginia communities will have access to a Governor’s Career and Technical Academy that is STEM inclusive and is linked to demand occupations in the region. To elevate the status of career and technical skills, the expanded academies will focus on promoting skills development for occupational areas such as technicians, welders, mechanics, machinists, builders, computer scientists and other occupations in the region that are in demand. http://www.bobmcdonnell.com/index.php/press_releases/details/mcdonnell_put_virginia_first/
Deeds Today- Expand Middle College and other dual enrollment programs
McDonnell: May 12 - We must also increase dramatically the level of collaboration between high schools, colleges and community colleges, so that far more early college courses, advance placement courses, and dual enrollment options are available to high school students in every community in Virginia. The old notion that, unless you are some kind of prodigy, you have to spend twelve years getting your high school degree, and then two or four full years in college, then whatever additional is required for post-graduate work, is outdated. Time means money, and if we can create good opportunities for students to get more degrees in fewer semesters, the savings can be enormous.
Deeds Today - Expand Virtual AP courses and other virtual education programs
McDonnell: June 4 -Increase Online Learning Through Virtual Schools Partner with online curriculum providers to leverage technological innovation with public education to bring a 21st century learning experience to Virginia students and families.
Deeds Today - Support financial literacy centers
McDonnell: June 4 - Support Educational Mentoring Programs focused on character, financial literacy, and public safety. Integrate proven mentoring programs into school systems to promote productive, responsible lifestyles.
Deeds Today- work with teachers to reward high performance
McDonnell: April 23 at VEA Forum - McDonnell highlighted his support for performance pay for teachers, more charter schools in Virginia, and getting education dollars out of administration and into the classroom.
Deeds Today - Turn-around programs for at-risk schools
McDonnell: June 4- Expand Turnaround Programs to Aid Underperforming Schools In 2004, then Governor Mark Warner had the foresight to partner the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) with the University of Virginia Darden/Curry Partnership for Leaders in Education to create the Virginia School Turnaround Specialist Program. The mission was to develop a cadre of specially trained principals who would be the equivalent of turnaround managers in business. The program focuses on leadership challenges, strategic change, decision-making, and data analysis and is aimed at improving student achievement in Virginia’s lowest-achieving schools. Since 2004, 16 school districts in Virginia have completed the program and nearly 30 schools have participated; however, the program has taken on more of a national role since receiving national grants. While this is a great example of an innovative reform, more intense focus must be placed on turning around Virginia’s under-performing schools.
As Governor, Bob McDonnell will appoint a Public School Turnaround Leader, at the Department of Education, whose sole mission will be to focus on the underperforming schools and set in motion urgent plans to eliminate obstacles to success. The leader will also increase coordination efforts between the Department of Education, local colleges and universities, the private sector and local schools to aid underperforming schools on a case-by-case basis. This new generation of education leaders will know what a successful school system looks like and how to implement it in failing areas. Turnaround experts must be given measurable goals, timelines and resources to succeed.
A McDonnell Administration will not accept more excuses for underperforming schools. Bob McDonnell will make certain that these schools have all options on the table. http://www.bobmcdonnell.com/index.php/press_releases/details/mcdonnell_unveils_part_two_of_education_reform_plan/
Deeds Today - expand education choices within the public school system
McDonnell : VEA Forum April 23rd - “McDonnell….....voiced a couple of issues that the Democrat-leaning VEA has traditionally opposed. He said he favors merit pay for teachers and increased emphasis on charter schools.”
http://www2.timesdispatch.com/rtd/news/local/article/DEBAGATER23_20090423-221403/263540/
McDonnell: June 4
Duplicate the Achievable Dream Middle and High School Model
Give Charter School Applicants More Options to Establish Schools
Provide Charter School Expertise
Create College Partnership Laboratory Schools
Establish More Specialized High Schools in High-Demand Industries
Deeds Today- Pursue federal funds for Race to the Top
McDonnell: August 24th
FACT CHECK
Creigh Deeds: By His Own Logic, He Will Rob Education in Years Ahead
Creigh Deeds continues, in every speech he makes and in every interview he gives, to peddle the fiction that every single dollar and dime in the General Fund is for education. This despite the fact that about 45% of the General Fund is for education. By Deeds’ own logic and in his own words, he will divert millions upon millions from Virginia’s schools with his various campaign proposals, all of which will take general fund dollars.
Creigh Deeds on Education
An “F” Record.
A “Me Too” Rollout
This Isn’t Leadership; This is a Struggling Student Who Isn’t Ready for the Next Grade