We must make sure our schools remain world-class. The last legislature provided the single largest increase in education spending in our history. We propose an additional three percent increase in fiscal year 2003.
I want accountability in our schools,
which is why we are moving forward on annual testing of grades, 4, 8 and 11, and compiling and disseminating results. For the first time, parents and communities will be able to compare their schools to other schools and really know where they stand.
Source: State of the State Address to Montana Legislature
Jan 25, 2001
3-Rs of education: recruit, retain, & reward teachers
My administration will focus on 4 key areas of early education:
Increasing resources and teacher development
Producing excellence with partnerships to mentor our kids
Providing safe learning environments
Implementing character education.
To accomplish any of our education objectives, we must recognize the importance of what I call my 3-Rs of education recruiting, retaining and rewarding outstanding teachers. To keep these professionals, Montana must begin to seriously compete with
over 20 other states that are making major investments to lure teachers away. We want to leverage our share of the $2.4 billion in increased federal funds that President Bush has promised states for training new teachers. We’ll partner with the private
sector to craft mentoring programs that inspire teachers to stay in the profession. And I’ll build partnerships with teachers, parents and administrators to craft a performance-based pay proposal called Investing in Teaching Excellence.
Source: State of the State Address to Montana Legislature
Jan 25, 2001
