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Mitt Romney on Education
When asked about changing his positions: I've taken a position where, once upon a time, I said I wanted to eliminate the Department of Education. That was my position when I ran for Senate in 1994. That's very popular with the base. As I've been a governor and seen the impact that the federal government can have holding down the interest of the teachers' unions and instead putting the interests of the kids and the parents and the teachers first, I see that the Department of Education can actually make a difference. So I supported No Child Left Behind. I still do.
2007 Republican Debate in South Carolina May 15, 2007
Education reform is the job of the Legislature and the executive.
I supported No Child Left Behind (NCLB) and think it is an important first step toward enhanced accountability. However, I see room for improvement. I would like to see modifications made in terms of giving states that are meeting or exceeding the testing requirements some additional flexibilities in how student performance is measured.
Women that I have seen in organizations have not had the opportunity that they deserve to have in getting ahead in organizations. If we are to compete as a nation, we've got to draw on the skills of women and minorities. And I have seen organizations from the federal government to corporations that are not drawing on the skills of women and minorities. [Romney said this in a 1994 debate with Ted Kennedy and has since backed off of this position.]
MA Senate Debate with Ted Kennedy Oct 1, 1994
[While governor of Massachusetts,] Governor Mitt Romney today issued an Executive Order creating the new Office of Diversity and Equal Opportunity, promoting a state government workforce that is reflective of the entire Massachusetts community and responsive to the Commonwealth’s citizens. Executive Order revitalizes the State Office of Affirmative Action by renaming it and giving it a broader mission.
Romney responding to change in position on affirmative action since his 1994 Ted Kennedy debate: "Affirmative action means different things to different people. But I made no suggestion that there would be quotas or that the government impose standards on hiring by private enterprises or by the government. I indicated my suggestion at that time for a private, information oriented approach to seeking diversity."
Romney also committed to ensuring proper transitional funding for traditional public school districts that send students to charter schools, noting he will approve the $37.7 million in the budget for that purpose -representing nearly a three-fold increase over the prior fiscal year. [Romney approved budged for public school funding but did so in part based on the disrict sending students to charter schools.] Romney stated: "Charter schools are public schools. All of our public schools deserve our support and encouragement."
Overall, under Romney's proposal, state education spending would rise to $3.452 billion from $3.29 billion this year, a $164 million increase in Chapter 70 basic aid funding, the main pot of money for schools. Overall spending for K-12 education is up $275 million, including $95 million tied to controversial proposals like providing merit pay to teachers and hiring consultants to help failing schools.
Governor Mitt Romney hailed charter schools as a valuable component of the state's public education system. He said charter schools particularly benefit students in poorer districts, where the alternatives to traditional public schools are limited. [Romney supports funding for charter schools, which comes out public school funding, be he considers charter schools to be public schools.]
For K-12, the Romney/Healey plan would focus resources on under-performing schools by providing for an immediate third party audit of school management, curriculum and faculty; giving principals emergency powers to replace up to 10 percent of staff; accelerating charter school authorization in the district and allowing for intensive remedial attention for under-performing teachers.
Campaign web site, www.romney2002.com, "Issues" Sep 17, 2002
Mass Leg passed a bill saying no more charter schools... and I vetoed that.
As governor, Romney focused on charter school expansion rather than implementing a voucher program. He pushed to eliminate the state-mandated cap on the number of charter schools and successfully vetoed a moratorium on the opening of new charter schools, passed by the Massachusetts Legislature in 2004.
Romney has expressed support for means-tested vouchers--through which households below a particular threshold receive vouchers of equal value--that would fund student attendance at public or private schools, including religious schools.
Mitt Romney is on record supporting charter schools, school vouchers, and home schooling.
In the past, Romney has pledged support for a means tested school voucher program.
I supported No Child Left Behind. I still do. I know there are a lot in my party that don't like it, but I like testing in our schools. I think it allows us to get better schools
2007 Republican Debate in South Carolina May 15, 2007
"It's a good thing to have high standards and to set standards and to make sure that we're seeing our kids being able to live up to those standards."
I supported No Child Left Behind (NCLB) and think it is an important first step toward enhanced accountability. However, I see room for improvement. I would like to see modifications made in terms of giving states that are meeting or exceeding the testing requirements some additional flexibilities in how student performance is measured.
"I'd like to pay better teachers better pay. I think good teachers are underpaid. I'd like to have a performance system that lets us know which teachers are doing the best and those teachers get better compensation... teachers who are judged to be the top-3rd in their schools they get a bonus."
A September 29, 2005 New York Times article reported that Governor Mitt Romney of Massachusetts had presented a "bold plan" for school reform, the centerpiece of which is to pay teachers extra for productive performance. [Support merit pay.]
"I'd like to pay better teachers better pay. I think good teachers are underpaid. I'd like to have a performance system that lets us know which teachers are doing the best and those teachers get better compensation... teachers who are judged to be the top third in their schools they get a bonus."
No one with a spark of ambition wants a career path where they can't get ahead on merit, where they are in lock step for pay raises and other perks based entirely on seniority.
He believes that teacher performance and not tenure should determine job security, saying that "seniority cannot trump the needs of our children."
Romney went on to say he would push for a longer school day, pay raises for teachers, and improve teacher training.
No one with a spark of ambition wants a career path where they can't get ahead on merit, where they are in lock step for pay raises and other perks based entirely on seniority. [Romney supports merit based pay which does not provide for across the board pay raises for teachers.]
Schools can teach family values, but not religion or prayer. Romney said he would support federal grants to schools to fund programs stressing the importance of economics and family values. He said that local school districts should have complete control over the programs, but that they could not endorse specific religious beliefs or prayer in schools. -- Among the possible programs could be teaching children to learn the importance of getting married before having children.
Boston Globe review of 1994 campaign issues Mar 21, 2002
He has advocated giving local school districts increased control over curriculum as long as they do not endorse specific religious beliefs or prayer in schools.
Schools can teach family values, but not religion or prayer. Romney said he would support federal grants to schools to fund programs stressing the importance of economics and family values. He said that local school districts should have complete control over the programs, but that they could not endorse specific religious beliefs or prayer in schools. -- Among the possible programs could be teaching children to learn the importance of getting married before having children.
Boston Globe review of 1994 canpaign issues Mar 21, 2002
He has advocated giving local school districts increased control over curriculum as long as they do not endorse specific religious beliefs or prayer in schools.
When asked about national service at the GOP debate: The former Massachusetts Governor had no comment on national service, saying he will discuss his views on the issue at a later time.