Education Battle in 2014 Governor’s Race Continues
Democratic state Senator and gubernatorial candidate Jason Carter rolled out more education reform proposals this week. It’s the latest round in the political fight between Carter and Republican Gov. Nathan Deal, who is running for reelection.
Sen. Carter says he wants to restore several HOPE Scholarship programs Gov. Deal defunded in 2011. One his bills would provide forgivable loans to some undergraduate education students in exchange for their commitment to teach in Georgia’s public schools. The bill would provide forgivable loans to some undergraduate education students in exchange for their commitment to teach in Georgia’s public schools. It would also provide forgivable loans to students seeking advanced education degrees in critical study areas.
“These are common sense solutions that require the state to keep its promise to teachers, and that will send a message that we want and respect the people who are entering into that profession.”
Under the bill, paraprofessionals going back to school to become teachers could also receive forgivable loans. Carter says that program was defunded in 2007.
In response, Deal campaign spokesperson Jen Talaber says the governor’s “leadership ensured the future of HOPE scholarship for current and future students. The governor’s commitment to students and teachers is unwavering, and investing in and strengthening education continues to be one of his top priorities.”
Carter filed another bill Thursday. The legislation calls for percentage increases for the next four fiscal years above what the Lottery Corporation currently deposits into the state’s Lottery for Education Fund. However, the increase would be frozen in any year where the net proceeds are less than the previous year. Most recently, Carter says the lottery corporation deposited 25.5 percent of its proceeds into the fund. By the 2018 fiscal year, the plan calls for a minimum of 30 percent.
Carter says the initiatives are needed because the current administration has “dismantled” the state’s public education system and is not doing enough for teachers.
“The current administration does not respect the teachers in our state the way that they should, and they have not focused on what it takes to recruit and retain the best teaching workforce that we can have and to increase and manage the morale of the people we have working for us.”
On Thursday, Gov. Deal responded to Carter.
“Senator Carter has been here now for four years. It’s nice to see him finally getting around to making some proposals. He has voted for every one of my budgets that I have put out there that included education funding, and apparently he has agreed with me up to this point. I would expect that of someone who says they are running for governor.”
Carter’s campaign fired back. Carter campaign manager Matt McGrath says, “That Gov. Deal wouldn’t recognize actual leadership on the issues that are important to Georgia families isn’t really surprising. It seems to be a pattern.”
Gov. Deal has proposed adding $547 million additional dollars to K-12 education in the 2015 fiscal budget.
Carter is also proposing to restore funding for National Board of Certification for certified teachers and restoring incentives for new and existing pre-K teachers who are highly qualified and experienced.
A November Georgia Budget & Policy Institute report found since 2003, the state has spent more than $7 billion dollars less on public education than what’s called for in the state’s education funding formula.
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