CER News Alerts
School Choice
E-Mail
CER CER
Publications
CER Press Release
(October 22, 2002) The Center for Education Reform's Education Reform 2002: A Voter's Guide is now available. Americans in 36 states will head to the polls next month to cast their vote for governor, and in seven of these states they will also select the state schools chief. The Center for Education Reform (CER) surveyed the candidates, conducted independent research and then compiled this important guide which helps voters evaluate the candidates education reform pedigree on key issues.
CER has cut through the rhetoric and spin in this report, which is a must read for anyone who believes education reform should be an essential part of what our chief executives should do. But overall, the responses were less than encouraging. For example, too many candidates are standing on a platform that simply calls for reducing class sizes and spending more money for schools. More than 20 percent of the candidates failed to even address the key reform issues today, such as charter schools or even annual testing.
Here's a sample of what you'll find in Education Reform 2002: A Voter's Guide:
ALASKA
Fran Ulmer (D)
Frank Murkowski (R)
Murkowski is stressing education in his campaign, and believes in many forms of parental choice, including charter schools. He supported NCLB in Congress. Ulmer's survey takes issue with the notion that kids trapped in failing schools should leave. She would rather work with existing schools than transfer children. She believes that the school boards in Alaska are generally supportive enough of charters to preclude the necessity of another authorizer. Teacher spending is among her priorities.
CALIFORNIA
Gray Davis (D)
Bill Simon (R)
Challenger Simon lists as his priorities solving the facilities crisis, accountability -- for which he supports value-added assessments -- and teacher quality. He embraces NCLB and believes choices among public and charter schools are essential. Incumbent Davis lists accountability and reducing class size as his main priorities, and his position on charter schools is tepid at best. Both believe in mandatory testing.
IOWA
Tom Vilsack (D)
Doug Gross (R)
Gross supports increasing spending, along with reforms like charters schools and expanded choices for children. His platform, however, does not address education. Incumbent Vilsack supports "investing in public schools," but publicly opposes vouchers. He does advocate offering parents charter schools (though the state's law is painfully weak), and his literature addresses teacher quality.
MARYLAND
Kathleen Kennedy Townsend (D)
Bob Ehrlich (R)
Ehrlich responded to our survey with a ringing endorsement of accountability, standards and testing. Money is important, he says, but teacher quality is the real determinant of good schools. Townsend advocates existing accountability programs but seems to put most of her focus on smaller classes, more pre-school, and school modernization. Ehrlich is a strong supporter of charter schools and believes children in failing schools should have choices. With Bill Gates' money, he'd modernize all schools.
The guide is available exclusively on CER's website: go to Education Reform 2002: A Voter's Guide. There you will find an at-a-glance reading of support for or against three top reforms as well as a state by state summary of views. For more information, contact Anna Varghese, CER Director of External Affairs at (202) 822-9000.
UPDATE -- Election Results 2002: Education Reform Triumphs for School Choice and Charters -- Analysis of States' Governor and Education Superintendent Race Results
# # #
The Center for Education Reform is a national, independent, non-profit advocacy organization providing support and guidance to individuals, community and civic groups, policymakers and others who are working to bring fundamental reforms to their schools. For more information contact CER at 202-822-9000.
CER Home Page
CER News Alerts
School Choice
E-Mail
CER CER
Publications