Bob Wise on Education Former Democratic Governor; previously Representative (WV-2)

First priority: PROMISE College Scholarship Program

Raise teacher salaries by $1,000; plus $2,500 in incentives

Let me speak directly to our educators. Your salaries have fallen to below 40th place in the nation. I commit to you tonight a multiyear effort to begin moving you back up the national ladder. We need to do more to keep the best and the brightest educators in our schools. I will commit to working with you on a strategy to develop incentives to keep experienced teachers in class longer.

Voted NO on allowing vouchers in DC schools.

Voted NO on vouchers for private & parochial schools.

Voted NO on giving federal aid only to schools allowing voluntary prayer.

Improve and invest in public schools.

Principles of the Democratic Governors Association:

IMPROVING PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND INVESTING IN OUR YOUNGEST CHILDREN

Democratic Governors are leading the way with highly-trained teachers, strong standards and accountability, increased funding to repair and modernize public school facilities, access to technology and computers, and more discipline and safety in the classrooms. Democratic Governors believe the most important aspect to insure a child’s education is to have the best possible teachers in the classroom. They believe that we must value teachers as professionals, encourage their development to be the best teachers they can be for our children and compensate them accordingly. Democratic Governors favor greater parental choice, but oppose measures that weaken public schools diverting taxpayer dollars to private schools with no accountability for results. Democratic Governors around the country are also forming innovative public-private partnerships to create programs to provide early childhood education, nutrition and health care services to ensure that our children have the best possible start in life.