2026 Governor's State of the State speeches: on Education


Andy Beshear: I am unapologetically a 100% pro-public education governor

Our priority, always, must be the future. And our future is molded in our public schools. I am unapologetically a 100% pro-public education governor. Every budget I've proposed has invested in our school systems, starting with our educators. Once again, I'll be doing what's right: I'm proposing $159 million for mandatory raises for educators; and a proposal to increase take-home pay by nearly 7%.
Source: 2026 State of the State Address to the Kentucky legislature Jan 7, 2026

Kay Ivey: Alabama is the most school choice friendly state

We are proud to support our families. That includes making Alabama the most school choice friendly state in the nation. Our education savings account program, the CHOOSE Act, is already supporting more than 23,000 students. That number will grow as more folks learn about the program, as student athletes feel more confident in the rules and when it becomes fully universal in year three. For the 27-28 Academic Year, I am proposing we increase funding for the CHOOSE Act to $250 million dollars.
Source: 2026 State of the State Address to the Virginia legislature Jan 13, 2026

Kim Reynolds: Education Savings Accounts are now universally available

Today, Iowa families can choose the school that best fits their needs, whether that's the neighborhood public school, another district, a public charter school, or a private school through an Education Savings Account. And this year marks a milestone. For the first time in Iowa's history, Education Savings Accounts are universally available—meaning the same State Cost per Pupil follows every child, regardless of income or ZIP code.
Source: 2026 State of the State Address to the Iowa legislature Jan 13, 2026

Gavin Newsom: Create debt-free pathways from school to high-paying jobs

Speaking of careers, I want to thank this legislature for helping fund our state's first master plan for career education. This three-year process, just recently completed, creates seamless, debt-free pathways from school to high-paying jobs, with or without college experience. We're integrating career training, strengthening regional partnerships, and building a new digital "career passport" so people can track their skills.
Source: 2026 State of the State Address to California legislature Jan 8, 2026

Phil Scott: We need far fewer districts each serving far more students

First, we need far fewer districts each serving far more students. This change will eliminate duplicated effort and expenses for things like bussing, human resources, and purchasing, which are currently being done across 52 supervisory unions and 119 districts. Importantly, it will reduce the inequity I just talked about because there'll be more consistent leadership and accountability. It also gives leaders more levers to pull, and more students--which means more funding.
Source: 2026 State of the State Address to the Vermont legislature Jan 7, 2026

Brian Kemp: Georgia a top state in public university affordability

Here in Georgia, tuition has increased by just five percent in that same period, and your partnership in eliminating the special institutional fee helped us lessen the impact of those increases on hardworking families and students. In fact, data from the National Center for Education Statistics shows that Georgia is one of the top states in the country for four-year public university affordability!
Source: 2026 State of the State Address to the Georgia legislature Jan 15, 2026

Larry Rhoden: Proud to opt-in to national school choice opportunity

I was proud to opt-in to the Trump Administration's school choice opportunity through the One Big Beautiful Bill. This is not about public versus private schools. It's about unleashing innovation for every child, just as competition drives success in business and beyond. Over the next year, we will be working with leaders from private schools, public schools, and the homeschooling community, so that our state is ready to implement this program on January 1, 2027.
Source: 2026 State of the State Address to South Dakota legislature Jan 13, 2026

Laura Kelly: Will step up and fund special education even when Feds won't

Once again, the federal government has dropped the ball on funding for special education. When you think about what parents take on when they have a child with a disability, you realize just how unconscionable that is. Now, Kansas has already stepped up and added over $120 million for special education. We'll keep calling on Washington to cover its fair share, but until it does, my budget will continue to increase this investment. We will never turn our backs on these children or their families.
Source: 2026 State of the State Address to the Kansas legislature Jan 13, 2026

Mike Braun: Indiana now has UNIVERSAL SCHOOL CHOICE

After decades of trying to get it done, Indiana now has UNIVERSAL SCHOOL CHOICE. Every Hoosier parent will have the opportunity to choose the school that best fits their child's needs. Last year's budget had some hard decisions, but the first thing we did was fully fund K through 12 education. More money is making its way to teachers and classrooms and less to administrative buildings. Everything we did was based around one simple principle: Parents are in charge of their kids' education.
Source: 2026 State of the State Address to the Indiana legislature Jan 14, 2026

Mike Kehoe: Students have brighter futures because families given choice

Our budget recommendation this year includes an additional 10 million dollars for the MO Scholars program for a total of 60 million dollars because this program is working, and Missouri families are counting on it. Students across our state have brighter futures because their families were given educational choice. They remind us that when we put students first, opportunity follows.
Source: 2026 State of the State Address to the Missouri legislature Jan 13, 2026

Ron DeSantis: The number one state in the union for parental empowerment

Now, seven years ago, Florida's school choice options were capped, they were limited. Today, we have universal school choice and rank as the number one state in the union for parental empowerment and education freedom to better measure performance, we replace high stakes testing with more reliable and consistent progress monitoring. In fact, today I can announce that the high school graduation rate for the 2024-2025 school year was 92.2%. That is the highest graduation rate in Florida history.
Source: 2026 State of the State Address to the Florida legislature Jan 13, 2026

  • The above quotations are from 2026 Governor's State of the State speeches.
  • Click here for definitions & background information on Education.
  • Click here for other issues (main summary page).
  • Click here for more quotes by Gavin Newson on Education.
  • Click here for more quotes by Kay Ivey on Education.
Candidates and political leaders on Education:
Candidates for President & Vice-President:
V.P.Kamala Harris (D-CA)
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.(I-CA)
Chase Oliver(L-GA)
Dr.Jill Stein(D-MA)
Former Pres.Donald Trump(R-FL)
Sen.J.D.Vance(R-OH)
Gov.Tim Walz(D-MN)
Dr.Cornel West(I-NJ) 		2024 presidential primary contenders:
Pres.Joe_Biden(D-DE)
N.D.Gov.Doug Burgum(R)
N.J.Gov.Chris_Christie(R)
Fla.Gov.Ron_DeSantis(R)
S.C.Gov.Nikki_Haley(R)
Ark.Gov.Asa_Hutchinson(R)
Former V.P.Mike Pence(R-IN)
U.S.Rep.Dean_Phillips(D-MN)
Vivek_Ramaswamy(R-OH)
S.C.Sen.Tim_Scott(R)
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Page last updated: Mar 13, 2026