Reclaim Education & Protect Our Children

The top priority of Missouri government should be the reform of our public education system, expanding opportunities for educational freedom to all Missouri children. In order to turn our state around we need to update our education system to reflect changes in the way our children learn, put parents back in charge, and make Missouri a national education leader.

• Establish a Parental Bill of Rights: Parents’ rights have been under assault and the lack of transparency is fueling a distrust in our schools. I will create a parents’ bill of rights that will define the rights and responsibilities of parents in Missouri, ensuring they have full knowledge of and input on curriculum, and are aware of what their children are learning in taxpayer-funded schools.

• Expand School Choice: As Governor, I will expand the use of charter schools and allow students to go beyond the borders of their home school district to find the best educational opportunity for their needs. I will expand Education Savings Accounts so everyone who wants to participate in their children’s education, can afford to, and funding will follow the student, not the school.

• Expand Vocational Education: Not every Missouria student wants a four-year degree, and many jobs in the new economy require technical skills, not liberal arts educations. I want to expand vocational education opportunities in high school and community colleges and work to expand access to any interested Missourian.

• Prioritize Academics and Civics: Our public schools should focus on the academic categories that will help students be successful in the 21st century economy, particularly reading and math. We also need to put an emphasis on civics so that Missouri students have a proper understanding of history and civics.

• Create School Report Cards: Missouri does not have an accessible way for parents to compare their children’s school’s performance to other schools in the area to help them know what the best opportunities are for their children. I will develop an A-F letter report card system, so we know which schools are performing, and which ones need help, so that all our schools – and kids – are getting the attention they need.

• Protect Children in Our Schools: I will fight any efforts to allow male athletes to compete against female athletes, kids hiding gender conformity issues from parents, or inappropriate materials provided to underage children. Our schools and libraries should be places where parents can trust their children to the teachers, librarians, and administrators.