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Jay Nixon on Education
Missouri Democratic Governor
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Increase education funding by $150 million
We now have a unique opportunity to build a better future for our children. We must seize it. And nothing will have a greater impact on our children's future than the commitment we make now to their education.
So in my budget, we increase funding for education. And we increase it by $150 million.- That's $17 million more for early childhood education.
- That's $34 million more for higher education;
- And that's $100 million more for our K-12 classrooms
Our children are our first priority. They are Missouri's future. Of course, with increased funding, come higher expectations. We expect better test scores, better graduation rates, more college degrees and more
Missourians ready to compete for the best jobs in a global economy. We've all got to do better, and that means everybody: students and teachers; parents and principals; coaches and college presidents. Increased funding means increased accountability.
Source: 2013 State of the State Address to Missouri Legislature
, Jan 28, 2013
A+ scholarships: community college for every high schooler
My budget includes more than $75 million for our Access and Bright Flight scholarships. And it increases funding for our A+ scholarships, which cover tuition and fees at all our public community colleges.
To qualify for an A+ scholarship, high school students must keep their grades up, have excellent attendance, and stay out of trouble.Since I've been Governor, we've expanded the A+ program to 150 more schools.
But there are still schools that aren't part of the A+ program, so their students can't even apply for A+ scholarships.
That's unfair to these kids, and we're going to fix it.
This is the year we will expand our A+ scholarship program to every public high school in the state, so that every qualified student in this state has the opportunity to go to community college--tuition free.
Source: 2013 State of the State Address to Missouri Legislature
, Jan 28, 2013
We need federal dollars for our schools
Rejecting federal funds would have a harmful impact on schools. Schools are relying upon those funds in the supplemental budget to meet payroll and other expenses this year. The federal law that authorized these education funds was clear.
If Missouri turns these funds away, they will go to schools in other states. Meanwhile, Missouri schools will be left frantically finding ways to cut hundreds of thousands of dollars from their budgets in the next few weeks.
Source: 2011 gubernatorial press release, "Unemployment"
, Apr 1, 2011
Re-invest in our public school system
Jay Nixon believes that a quality education is the key to achieving the American Dream. We need to strengthen our education system from top to bottom so that every child, no matter where in Missouri that child lives or what that child’s parents do for
a living, has an opportunity to succeed.Jay is a living testament to the potential of our public school system, attending the Jefferson County schools as a kid and going on receive his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Missouri.
As Attorney General, Jay has seen first-hand the problems facing Missouri public schools. He knows that many of our school buildings are in poor shape, we need more technology in the classroom, our teachers are vastly underpaid, and too many of
our children are dropping out of high school. Simply put, there are children in Missouri who do not have adequate and equal access to a quality education. That must change. As Governor, Jay will make it a priority to re-invest in our public school system
Source: 2008 Gubernatorial campaign website, nixonforgovernor.com
, Nov 4, 2008
Page last updated: Apr 25, 2013
