State of the States (2007)
Follow Education Week’s comprehensive coverage of all 2007 State of the State Addresses as the nation’s governors outline their ideas on education and other legislative priorities. All stories include a complete transcript of the governor’s address, some also include audio and video versions.
College & Workforce Readiness
State of the States
Governor Proposes College Tax-Credit Plan
In his final State of the State Address before the 2006 elections, Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich pointed to his record on education and proposed a new tax credit for families seeking to send their children to college.
Education
State of the States
School Construction Program Highlighted in Address
Gov. Bob Riley proposed major boosts in education spending in several key areas during his Jan. 10 State of the State Address.
Education Funding
State of the States
Outgoing Governor Cites Progress
Acting Gov. Richard J. Codey, making his second and final State of the State Address since he stepped in to finish his predecessor’s term, urged New Jersey lawmakers to invest in school construction and higher education even as they battle a huge budget deficit.
School & District Management
State of the States
Speech Highlights Tax-Relief Plan
Gov. Dave Heineman gave modest attention to schools in his second State of the State Address, delivered on Jan. 12, making a $421 million tax-relief package the focus of his mid-biennium budget proposal for the 2006 and 2007 fiscal years.
Equity & Diversity
State of the States
K-12 Programs Eyed for Spending
Gov. Matt Blunt, in his State of the State Address on Jan. 11, vowed to continue his efforts to make education his No. 1 budget priority for Missouri.
Recruitment & Retention
State of the States
Big Plans Announced for Alaska Schools
Gov. Frank H. Murkowski used his Jan. 10 State of the State Address to ask legislators for increased per-pupil school funding—and to hint that another major education announcement was imminent.
Education
State of the States
Funding Is Priority; Recovery Continues
Gov. Haley Barbour focused much of his Jan. 9 State of the State Address on reassuring Mississippians that their state’s economy would recover following Hurricane Katrina’s devastation of many Gulf Coast communities.
Education Funding
State of the States
Education Is Top Priority for Georgia Governor
Gov. Sonny Perdue called education Georgia’s “top priority” in his Jan. 11 State of the State Address.
College & Workforce Readiness
State of the States
Address Focuses on Higher Education
In his eighth and final State of the State Address, Colorado Gov. Bill Owens promised a small increase in K-12 education aid, but did not offer any new precolle-giate initiatives.
Education
State of the States
Teacher Pay Could Rise in Arizona
Gov. Janet Napolitano of Arizona has proposed expanding voluntary kindergarten, raising teacher salaries, and providing more professional development for teachers as her recipe for improving education in the coming year.
College & Workforce Readiness
State of the States
Increase in Funding Proposed for Schools
Gov. Dirk Kempthorne of Idaho is proposing to spend for the first time in state history, more than $1 billion on public schools in fiscal 2007. He made the announcement Jan. 9 in his eighth and final State of the State Address.
Education
State of the States
Single State Agency Sought for Early Years
In her speech Jan. 10 on the condition of Washington state, Gov. Christine Gregoire told legislators that demands on the budget would force the state to hold steady on the gains made last year in financing smaller classes and teacher raises.
College & Workforce Readiness
State of the States
Education Is Linked to Business Growth
Gov. Joe Manchin III tied education to workforce development in a speech Jan. 11 that focused strongly on bringing more business to West Virginia.
Budget & Finance
State of the States
Education Taxes Targeted in Vermont Address
In a State of the State Address that decried Vermont’s high cost of living, Gov. James H. Douglas highlighted the rise in education property taxes and outlined a property-tax-relief plan.