Winners of Gubernatorial Races And Their Positions on Education

Wants 90 percent of new state education dollars to go directly into classrooms, for purposes of putting reading specialists in every elementary school, adding more mathematics teachers in middle schools, and hiring more teachers in kindergarten through grade 3. Proposes paying for new programs before and after school, as well as on Saturdays and during summer. Also proposes increasing teacher pay and expanding scholarship programs for future teachers. Supports equalizing state funding for repairing and upgrading school buildings in poor and wealthy districts.

Points to approval during his four-year tenure of new student academic standards and progress toward creating new state accountability system. Proposes additional spending next year for K-3 reading programs and middle school math programs, and also for teacher professional development on such topics as aligning instruction with standards and preparing for using technology to improve teaching and learning.

Opposes vouchers. Proposes instituting a $5,000 annual bonus for teachers who receive National Board for Professional Teaching Standards certification, and 10 percent annual salary bonus for board-certified educators who mentor other candidates. Wants to abolish social promotion and provide additional $70 million over four years for remedial programs. Hopes to reduce size of grades K-3 classes to student-to-teacher ratio of 17-to-1, down from 22-to-1. Would seek to increase the participation rate in Parents as Teachers program, which provides low-income families with information and skills to prepare children from birth to age 5 for school.

Proposes several changes aimed at recruiting and retaining high-quality teachers, including setting aside $1.5 million in next biennial budget to forgive student loans of teachers who work in high-shortage areas for seven years. Wants to give schools more flexibility to move money between accounts so they could increase teacher pay. Calls for supporting schools in implementing merit-pay plans, and increasing bonuses for teachers who receive certification from National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.

Points to her efforts to forge a temporary solution to state’s school funding crisis. Favors establishing video lotteries at state’s four racetracks to provide more permanent source of new funding for schools. Has shied away from offering more comprehensive finance plan until commission she appointed to examine school funding proposals finishes work in December. Favors making schools more accountable for improving student performance.

Proposes an academic program for preschoolers to go along with state’s new early-childhood initiative, Smart Start, and would pay for it with a lottery. Would also spend some $200 million from that lottery to reduce class sizes in lower grades. Opposes vouchers, saying they would drain needed money from public schools. Wants school curriculum to include character education. Would require every local school board to review or develop—and strictly enforce—a dress code policy. Supports expanding and improving alternative disciplinary programs for seriously disruptive students.

Former president and CEO of Bank of North Dakota proposes teacher salary increase of $3,500 over two years, paid for without relying on tobacco-settlement dollars and at discretion of local school boards. Wants to connect schools to Internet and would push for more discounts under federal E-rate program. Favors state funding for additional professional development day annually for teachers, targeted to technology training. Supports allowing teachers to continue to teach while drawing retirement benefits. Would assist schools in voluntary long-term planning by reimbursing cost of facilitators to work with parents, educators, and community members. Would push federal government to subsidize 40 percent of special education costs.

Popular chief executive has large war chest in seeking third four-year term. He points to education record that includes establishment of charter schools, higher spending, reduced class sizes, and extra money for schools with large numbers of disadvantaged students. Plans for a new term include oversight of new accountability measures being implemented by state board of education. Also calls for providing more money to replace outdated textbooks and further reduce class size to statewide average of 20 students from 21.4 today. Endorsed by Utah Education Association, the dominant statewide teachers’ union, despite some dissent from its members.

Medical doctor and former lieutenant governor who succeeded to governorship upon predecessor’s death in 1991, Dean is seeking his fifth two-year term. Staunchly defends state’s controversial school finance overhaul, Act 60, taking heat from businesses and wealthy property owners who have seen their property taxes increase dramatically for past three years. Also has promoted initiatives on school safety, public school choice, and children’s health care.

Touts four-year record of increasing state spending to add teachers, build and repair schools, help districts provide “extended” learning activities beyond regular school schedule, enhance school security, and create a “K-20" telecommunications network. Led effort that created college scholarships for low- and middle-income students who graduate in top 15 percent of their high school classes. Proposes paying exemplary teachers more to encourage other teachers to improve. Favors financial incentives and alternative routes to teacher certification to enlarge pool of prospective teachers. Supports Nov. 7 citizen initiatives that would permit creation of charter schools, direct state money to help districts lower class sizes or add extended learning activities, and guarantee teachers annual cost-of-living raises.

Would pay for college scholarship program approved by legislature last year that would provide grants to all students whose grades qualified them. Proposes development of a comprehensive labor-market information system available to education institutions and others. Wants to encourage greater local business and labor involvement in public schools, including establishment of apprenticeship and tech-prep programs. Advocates more instruction in foreign languages and cultures. Favors character education. Wants to strengthen vocational and entrepreneurial education and expand student apprenticeship programs.