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Tom Reilly on Education
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Charter schools are a matter of giving parents choice
GABRIELI: Tom and I support charter schools because we see them as an opportunity for innovation and choice. Deval, I think you're wrong to refuse these kids the choices that every other parent seeks for themselves to go to a great school.PATRICK:
Chris, you're wrong that I don't support charter schools. As important as charter schools are and as helpful as they are, we need to come up with a different and better funding mechanism before we raise the cap.
REILLY: Deval, if there was a moratorium
proposed by the legislature, to curb any growth in charter schools, would you sign that legislation? I wouldn't. I think Chris would veto it.
GABRIELI: I would veto it.
REILLY: Would you veto it?
PATRICK: Yes, but listen, we've got to be serious
about funding. The formula works in theory, but in real life, there are real tensions between real families and that is not community building and that is not advancing ed reform.
REILLY: It's a matter of giving parents choice, give them a choice.
Source: MA gubernatorial debate on CBS4 news [Xref Gabrieli]
Sep 13, 2006
Supports charter schools in districts with low test scores
Reilly supports charter schools, especially in school districts with low test scores. His campaign has said that in struggling districts he favors raising the cap that limits spending on charter schools, but hasn't said how far. He has also said merit
pay for teachers and a longer school day "should be on the table" and may be included in future education proposals. Reilly is the only candidate whose children were educated in public schools. His three daughters attended school in Watertown.
Source: Boston Globe Issue Outlines: Education
Jun 3, 2006
More charter schools and individual merit pay
Reilly, a supporter of more charter schools, reiterated his support for individual teacher merit pay but said standardized test scores would be one of the criteria used to measure improved student performance. Reilly, whose wife,
Ruth, retired after 35 years of teaching in public schools, said he would also increase funding for the state's public higher education system. "There has never been a governor in my lifetime who made public higher education a priority," Reilly said.
Source: Brian C. Mooney in Boston Globe
Apr 30, 2006
Supports charter schools and MCAS testing
I've been independent minded, and the party establishment has problems with that, Reilly said in an interview after the caucus results were in, citing his position in favor of a tax rollback, charter schools, and
MCAS testing. ''I did well considering that I stand up to the party on certain things."
Source: By Frank Phillips and Scott Greenberger, Boston Globe
Feb 5, 2006
Focus on turning around our failing schools
Reilly laid out many of his goals as Governor, including: Investing in our children's education - turning around our failing schools; closing the shameful achievement gap between the rich and the poor; and reaching new heights in math and science,
so our kids can compete in a global economy. Prioritizing public higher education, including making the University of Massachusetts one of the top ten public universities in the country (right now it's ranked 50th);
Source: Campaign kickoff speech
Jan 24, 2006
Education the only path to real opportunity
Tom's parents knew that education was the only path to real opportunity in America. A product of both Springfield public schools and Cathedral High School , Tom became the first person in his family to attend college.
After one year at Saint Francis Xavier University in Nova Scotia , he returned to Springfield to attend American International College where he graduated in 1964.
Source: Campaign website, www.tomreilly.org
Jan 8, 2006