Reduced class size, despite legislative opposition
My vision of education is straightforward: great learning, great teaching and great leadership. Last year I proposed class-size reduction without a tax increase. When the Legislature didn’t respond I helped put it on the ballot as Initiative 728,
which swept through our state, county by county, passing with the largest margin of any initiative in our history -- because people care passionately about improving our education system. Lawmakers, I call on you to join me.
Source: State of the State / Inaugural Address
Jan 10, 2001
Teacher merit pay; less rules for certification
I propose to waive regulations for schools that want to set even higher achievement standards and to reward schools for meeting those goals.
Exceptional teachers deserve exceptional compensation.
My proposal calls for select school districts to lead the way and design a new teacher compensation system based on knowledge, skill and performance.
To further encourage great teaching, and to increase the number of great educators, we will adopt alternative certification programs for teachers. If a Microsoft retiree wants to teach math she should be able to do so without going back to college
for an education degree. The Professional Standards Board we created just six months ago has devised a quicker method for qualified people to get into the classroom. So a person can retire from one profession in May and be teaching in September.
Source: State of the State / Inaugural Address
Jan 10, 2001
Improve and invest in public schools.
Locke is a member of the Democratic Governors Association:
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.
Source: DGA website, www.DemocraticGovernors.org/ 01-DGA2 on Aug 15, 2001
