Policy

Report: Education Priorities for New Governors

A Center of American Progress report gives new governors a framework for how to move forward with education policy.

• By Sara Friedman
• 01/14/19

With 20 new governors assuming office this month, a new Center for American Progress (CAP) report outlines the ways that governors can act quickly when it comes to creating new education policies.  The report highlights 11 possible actions for governors to take during their few months in office.

"As these 20 new governors begin their first terms in office, they will look for ways to make clear statements about their priorities and achieve quick wins to fulfill campaign promises. Although long-term investment in education must be a major focus throughout their tenures, governors can hit the ground running on this important issue by penning executive actions, which they can issue unilaterally," according to the report.

Here are the 11 steps CAP recommends governors can take immediately upon assuming office:

1. Establish a school infrastructure task force.
2. Convene a funding formula commission.
3. Create a commission charged with modernizing and evaluating the teaching profession.
4. Issue a declaration of students' right to be free from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression.
5. Issue a directive to redesign high schools and improve workforce readiness.
6. Form a task force to align school schedules and services with the needs of working families.
7. Initiate an investigation of the for-profit and virtual charter schools.
8. Set up a task force on school safety and positive school climate.
9. Establish a commission on the status of civics education.
10. Launch a task force on sexual health and education in schools.
11. Issue a proclamation on the need for evidence-based, positive approaches to school discipline.

The full report can be found here.