Governors' Top Education Issues: State of the States 2014

Education Commission of the States. ECS Distribution Center, 700 Broadway Suite 1200, Denver, CO 80203-3460. Tel: 303-299-3692; Fax: 303-296-8332; e-mail: [email protected]; Web site: http://www.ecs.org

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State Policy; Educational Quality; Access to Education; Economic Development; Quality of Life; Vocational Education; Dual Enrollment; Preschool Education; Partnerships in Education; Labor Force Development; Higher Education; Tuition; Student Financial Aid; Educational Finance; Financial Support; Teacher Salaries

Education issues were again at the forefront when the leaders of 42 states and the District of Columbia outlined their priorities in their 2014 State of the State addresses. Governors outlined their plans for increasing the quality and availability of education--from preschool through postsecondary--to spur economic growth and enhance the quality of life of each state's citizens. This brief highlights the most frequently cited education priorities of the nation's governors. They include: (1) Career and technical education--At least 13 governors and the D.C. mayor outlined proposals improving or expanding CTE options for students; (2) Dual enrollment--Governors in at least 10 states discussed college- and career-ready high school graduates, many outlining plans to increase funding for, or access to, dual enrollment programs; (3) Early learning--At least 14 governors and the mayor of D.C. highlighted preschool proposals in their 2014 addresses, focused primarily on expanding access through increased funding, universal pre-K and public-private partnerships; (4) Economic and workforce development--At least 13 governors described plans to create or strengthen partnerships between their education systems and business communities, with a focus on ensuring graduates are prepared to meet state workforce need; (5) Higher education--Governors in at least 17 states outlined proposals related to higher education, most focused on tuition, financial aid and affordability. Five governors called for a freeze on tuition rates; (6) K-12 finance--At least a dozen governors and the D.C. mayor have made the restoration of K-12 funding a priority, following cuts made in the economic recession; and (7) Teacher compensation--Governors in at least 10 states included teacher compensation policy in their addresses, with calls for pay increases or compensation policy changes.

ERIC

2015

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