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COLLEAGUE . pg 1 HISTORY LESSON: Governors at the Helm of an Evolving State Role in Education ...........................................................Advice from Education Governors pg . 3 DEVELOPING AN EDUCATION KNOWLEDGE BASE pg . 4 FORMING AN EDUCATION POLICY AGENDA AUTHOR | STEPHANIE DEAN . 6 GETTING STARTED Director of Research and Evaluation pg pg . 8 PRIMER ON MAJOR FEDERAL COMMITMENTS Gove and Federick Wirt, “Prior to the 1970s, the EDUCATION & JOBS: HISTORY governors’ role in school policy was almost nonexistent.” 1 AN EDUCATION GOVERNOR’S LESSON: The state’s role in education evolved in the latter GOVERNOR JIM HUNT half of the 20th century when concerns converged PERSPECTIVE 1977-1985 | 1993-2001 GOVERNORS AT over America’s economic stability, technologi- THE HELM OF cal prowess, and ability to ensure individual ongratulations on your recent election. In these tough times, I know you will be opportunity for all citizens. The nation burned focused on getting your economy back on track and creating high-paying jobs in with humiliation over the Sputnik launch in 1957, your state. Education is your best economic development tool and your state’s AN EVOLVING jobs in farms and factories vanished, and many c largest dollar investment. It is the key to a strong economy and to ensuring well- citizens found themselves displaced by the shift informed, productive citizens. To attract new business to your state, and keep the ones you have, STATE ROLE IN to a knowledge-based economy that made new you will need an educated workforce that can compete with the best in the world. Sixty-three demands of the workforce. Unrest over the increas- percent of tomorrow’s jobs, ranging from blue collar to managerial and professional positions, EDUCATION ingly dim opportunities for children in low-income will require a credential beyond a high school diploma. communities prompted civil rights court rulings that called for states to ensure equity in funding As a new governor, you will face competing interests and priorities. Without hesitation, I will tell you n recent decades, many gov- and adequacy in educational offerings. that education should be at the top of the list, and you must ensure that you get the best information ernors have joined a growing possible upon which to make your decisions. It is the very reason I founded the Hunt Institute—to ensure tradition of placing education Not long after the 1983 release of A Nation At that governors have access to experts from around the country and they’re able to harness the energy i at the center of the vision for Risk, the very influential report calling for educa- and momentum needed to drive systemic educational improvement. their respective states. Regardless of political tion reform, the nation’s governors pulled together party affiliation, education governors share to take up the cause of education reform in their The good news is that recent years have seen the combining of forces to undertake joint and cross-state the desire to foster student achievement and respective states. A series of Southern governors efforts—rising to the challenges of educating students to a higher level. You may have your own thoughts economic opportunity. These leaders are mobilized the public and their state legislators and ideas about education, but I encourage you not to abandon solid efforts already underway. keenly aware that America’s status as a to support tougher school standards, better pay first-rate nation cannot be maintained if for teachers, and more state funds for K-12 For example, 80 percent of states have adopted the Common Core State Standards, embarking on the the country falters in its ability to prepare education. Many of these governors—such as challenge of helping every student to graduate ready for college or a career. An even greater number students to excel in a knowledge-based Lamar Alexander (TN), Bill Clinton (AR), of states are working together to develop new assessments based on those standards. Through this joint society. However, any education governor Bob Graham (FL), Jim Hunt (NC), Thomas effort, states will share the cost of developing a much improved product and can then focus saved who has taken on a comprehensive effort to Kean (NJ), Richard Riley (SC), and William resources on the demanding work of helping students meet the standards. strengthen the school system knows that this Winter (MS)—later became leaders of national 2 work spans a longer period of time than a efforts to improve American schools. To help you navigate these and other critical education issues, the Hunt Institute has gathered single governor’s term in office. advice from your colleagues—both former and sitting governors—who know what it takes to become Today, states play the leading role in educa- an effective education governor. These individuals understand through experience that the challenge To appreciate the shift that has occurred in recent tion finance and policy. In fiscal year 2008, of providing every child a world-class education does not belong to one party or administration. As an decades, it is important to reflect on the forces states allocated nearly half of their general incoming governor, you have the opportunity to build on their hard-earned knowledge and benefit that have led governors to assume a central role fund expenditures to education: 34.5 percent from their advice. in education policymaking. Though states have to elementary and secondary education and constitutional authority over public education, the 11.3 percent to higher education.3 As noted by Now, more than ever, there’s a strong desire and demand for student success and solid economic majority of education funding through the first Vermont Governor Jim Douglas, “Public education outcomes—and policymakers see the connection. My advice is this: Take the helm and advance half of the 20th century came from local revenue is among the greatest expenses for the taxpay- change, and be audacious in the process. sources. As noted by political scientists Samuel ers of Vermont. We have to make sure that 1 money is being spent as efficiently and of high-quality, K-12 standards to be voluntarily struggling will need additional supports to help effectively as possible.” 4 adopted by states. This unprecedented effort by DEVELOPING them close the gap between their performance governors influenced federal resource allocation; and the new expectations. Before pulling what the idea of shared state standards was quickly AN EDUCATION appears to be the most urgent or attractive lever 2008 GENERAL integrated into requirements for several federal in the education system, a governor needs to FUND EXPENDITURES funding programs and attracted $350 million in KNOWLEDGE remember that education systems are extraordi- federal investments for state assessments built narily complicated. In order for any real reform or upon these standards. improvement to take hold, one needs to address . BASE 34.5 | . related pieces simultaneously or in a logical elementary & . secondary . education . Conversations about the need to improve sequence. Failure to plan comprehensively will . education in our nation, and the various cause even the best reform strategies to fail. “Get ahold of understanding the systems . strategies for doing so, have been ongoing for . before launching new initiatives.” . 54.2 | other . decades. Governors entering office today have DEEPEN KNOWLEDGE GAINED ON THE . -Former Governor Roy Romer, Colorado . the opportunity to learn from the experiences CAMPAIGN TRAIL. As noted by Bob Graham, . and wisdom of their predecessors, allowing Some incoming governors arrive at their new a former governor and former US senator from . | . 11.3 . higher . education . them to more quickly assume the position of post with a background in education, such as Florida, “The political campaign ought to be part education governor and to move expeditiously North Carolina Governor Bev Perdue, who worked of the diversity of learning experiences for in their efforts to propel their states from the as a public school teacher and holds a Ph.D. would-be political leaders.” 7 During the campaign, Despite increased state investment and leader- past to a future that is bright with individual in Education Administration, or Rhode Island position papers on various issues are developed, ship in education, the United States continues to opportunity and economic resiliency. Governor Don Carcieri, who taught high school providing an early exercise in gathering relevant lag behind top-performing nations on international math before pursuing a career in business. Most research and data. Mark Warner, former governor assessments. American students ranked 15th governors, however, will arrive less steeped of Virginia and a current US senator, explains, in reading, 25th in math, and 21st in science out in the field of education and will need staff to “I did a broad, nationwide survey of what other of 30 industrialized countries that participated quickly bring them up to speed as they prepare states were doing, and consulted with leading in the Program for International Student Assess- “I RECOMMEND THAT NEW to take office. organizations such as the National Governors ment (PISA), an international assessment GOVERNORS TRAVEL TO CHINA Association, Education Commission of the States, designed to measure a student’s ability to apply UNDERSTAND THE ESSENTIAL COMPONENTS and others.” Using this base of knowledge, Warner TO SEE WHAT THE GLOBAL their knowledge to solve problems.5 Researchers OF A COHERENT EDUCATION POLICY AGENDA. developed pilot projects to test the effectiveness conclude that part of the cause has been our ECONOMY REALLY LOOKS LIKE. An education governor avoids rushing into piece- of various strategies within his state. failure to address two basic issues: develop- You’lL COME BACK MOTIVATED meal initiatives and is careful to craft a policy ing and nurturing a strong teaching force and AND WITH A CLEAR VISION.