Tennessee Newspaper Network Survey

Below are the complete questions and answers from a survey posed to the seven major party candidates in the 2010 governor’s race.

The Tennessee Newspaper Network is a content-sharing consortium of statewide newspapers, including the Chattanooga Times Free Press

Zach Wamp:

1) The BEP, as revised under Gov. Bredesen three years ago, has not been fully implemented due to budget constraints. Would you fully fund the BEP and, if so, when, and do you believe it provides a fair distribution of state dollars to school districts?

I am committed to holding the line and not cutting K-12 education funding, and I support moving toward fully-funding the BEP, despite the tough economic situation our state currently faces. Tough economic times and falling revenues have made it very difficult for Tennessee to meet BEP funding goals. In 2009-2010, approximately 5% of BEP funding came from temporary ARRA stimulus funds in order to “fully fund BEP.” And in the next budget year, 2010-2011, the governor has proposed using rainy-day funds and temporary ARRA funds to help plug the shortfall in education funding. When those temporary stimulus dollars run out, there will be a huge hole left to fill in K-12 funding.

In order to fill this gap, we need to be creative and aggressive about education reform in Tennessee because we have to learn to do more with less. There are dozens of success models in our state – counties and school systems that have done much more with less – and we should identify and replicate these models all across the state.

My 20/20 Vision for Tennessee includes first focusing on early childhood reading to ensure children are ready to learn as they enter school and in grades K-3. We should start benchmarking children in kindergarten, and if they are not reading proficiently, pull them out of class for an hour each day for intervention (which would include phonics) to catch them up to their peers. Children who are reading well by the 3rd grade are much more likely to be successful in middle school, high school, and beyond, and much less likely to need costly remedial courses.

Secondly, we should examine ways to create more flexibility and efficiencies in our school systems. Allocations to school systems for pre-K funding, for example, are set without giving the systems, which are often better stewards of those funds, the flexibility to use pre-K savings for other pre-K or K-12 purposes. We need to change that to give well-managed systems greater flexibility in maximizing pre-K funds. Finally, we should be open to alternative licensure as a way to fill the shortage of much-needed math and science teachers – because if career professionals who have degrees in physics or mathematics have an interest in teaching, we should encourage, not discourage, their willingness to teach our kids.

On BEP distribution, it is clear that the change in the formula in the last few years disproportionately impacted small school systems. Part of the issue for small systems is increased accountability without resources to improve and enhance student learning. To help these smaller districts, I will work to allow counties to share resources across lines, continue to emphasize alternative methods of teacher certification to ensure that these districts have certified teachers in math and science, and strongly promote distance and online learning to give smaller systems some options and resources they may not normally be able to afford.

2) As revised by the General Assembly in 2009, Tennessee law now allows charter schools in systems with at least 14,000 students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunches. Also, there can be no more than 90 charter schools statewide. Would you like to change the charter schools law and, if so, how?

Charter school options should be expanded to allow innovations in all systems, not just those systems that currently qualify with more than 14,000 students or have historically failing schools. I also support looking at all options for online learning, including changing the law that restricts online charter schools to allow for statewide online initiatives, as long as quality and cost concerns are met and that rural districts are not hurt by the changes. While I applaud the legislature’s recent moves to allow more charter schools in our state, more needs to be done. If there are educational success models that work (and often even at lower costs), we should encourage and allow them in Tennessee.

3) Under current Tennessee law, school superintendents are appointed by school boards. Would you favor changing the law to allow popular election of school superintendents and, if so, under what circumstances?

I support the current system where school superintendents are appointed by school boards, since the school boards themselves are popularly elected. A change to this model would take our state backwards by all measurements of system accountability. Political campaigns for Superintendents leads to political appointment of principals. These positions should be tied to academic performance of students, not political favoritism.

4) The state’s voluntary pre-kindergarten program currently serves about 18,000 4-year-olds statewide. Would you favor expansion of the pre-k or, given the state’s budget problems, would you support reduction or elimination of the program?

The development of children from birth to school age is critical to their success in school and in life. I support the state’s pre-K program, and I believe the program is a vital resource for many children and families across the state, but today’s public pre-K programs are not efficient enough to ensure that taxpayers are getting the most for their money. Allocations to school systems for pre-K funding are set without giving the systems, which are better stewards of those funds, the flexibility to use pre-K savings for other pre-K or K-12 purposes. We need to change that to give well-managed systems greater flexibility in maximizing pre-K funds. We must also work to make sure that publicly-funded pre-K efforts do not drive out parent-led or privately-managed pre-K options because we need ALL of those options working together if we are going to get our kids ready to learn.

In addition, my 20/20 Vision for Tennessee also calls for a bold new public/private emphasis on early childhood reading once they arrive at school to help make sure all Tennessee children have the reading skills they need to learn and succeed by the 3rd grade. So I will place great emphasis on rallying support for pre-K that goes well-beyond publicly-funded pre-K efforts.

5) The Legislature recently adopted changes to state law on teacher evaluation and tenure in a special legislative session. Do you support those changes and what, if any, further steps should be taken to enhance the quality of teachers and principals in Tennessee?

I support these changes. My concern is that once these changes go into effect, that they are implemented consistently and fairly across the state. It will take a concerted effort by local systems, teachers unions, and administrators to ensure these changes are implemented successfully. In order to provide teachers with the necessary training to succeed, we should commit to providing opportunities for teachers to improve through thoughtful, on-going and sustained professional development. I particularly applaud Senator Frist’s and SCORE’s efforts on improving teacher evaluation.

6) Should school boards be given any authority to impose raise revenue for education, through property taxes or otherwise, without county commission approval. If so, under what circumstances?

No. All taxing authority should continue to rest with the county commissions.

7) Projections indicate that lottery revenues may not be sufficient to cover the cost of scholarship programs within two years. In distributing available dollars, would you put priority on maximizing the number or students who receive scholarships or on fully covering the cost of an education for those with the highest academic ratings?

If changes are necessary in regards to lottery fund distribution, we should place the highest priority on our hardest-working and high-achieving students and work to ensure that more low-income students who excel have their tuition funded. Lottery funds must have incentives built in for achievement. As Tennessee raises standards for education, we should not lower standards for scholarships.

8) Tuition has increased at a greater pace than appropriation of state dollars to higher education in recent years. What, if anything, should be done to reduce further increases in tuition?

Due to the current budget shortfall the state faces, it is irresponsible for any candidate for Governor to promise new funding for higher education, outside of finding and creating efficiency and savings within the current system. Until we get more Tennesseans back to work and our economy on the move again, any new growth in higher education funding must come from greater efficiencies and savings or small tuition increases.

9) Should the current three-part structure of higher education in Tennessee (a University of Tennessee system, a Board of Regents system and a Tennessee Higher Education Commission) be changed and, if so, how?

The issue of streamlining Tennessee’s higher education system is one that may be dealt with before the next Governor takes office, but clearly there are overlapping areas of mission, funding, instruction and administrative duplication within THEC, the TBR, and the UT systems. I will take a hard look at the recommendations currently being discussed to find ways we can streamline and make higher education more efficient and affordable for more Tennessee families and students.

10) Why would your ability as governor to address education issues be superior to that of your opponents?

First, because my education reform plan as outlined in my 20/20 Vision focuses on specifics and an actual plan, and not just more rhetoric. And second, because I understand the challenges and the opportunities. As I’ve traveled to all 95 counties of our state, I’ve met with students, teachers, parents, school board members, superintendents, business leaders and elected officials, and I understand the challenges our state faces in education, but I have also seen dozens of success models. I am committed to making Tennessee an education reform state, so that folks from around the country know that we are aggressive in championing reform, efficiency, high standards, and greater student success and achievement in education.

Jim Kyle

Questions:

1) The BEP, as revised under Gov. Bredesen three years ago, has not been fully implemented due to budget constraints. Would you fully fund the BEP and, if so, when, and do you believe it provides a fair distribution of state dollars to school districts?

Fully funding the BEP would be my top fiscal priority. I believe the BEP, particularly after the BEP 2.0 revision I sponsored in 2007, is a fair and equitable method for distributing money to our state's school districts.

2) As revised by the General Assembly in 2009, Tennessee law now allows charter schools in systems with at least 14,000 students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunches. Also, there can be no more than 90 charter schools statewide. Would you like to change the charter schools law and, if so, how?

Charter schools play an important role in education in the sense that they are labs for innovation. To the extent that they challenge public schools to educate our children better, they are an important component. However, to say that a public school system completely made of charter schools is what we need, is erroneous. I believe in public education, and I believe in quality public education.

3) Under current Tennessee law, school superintendents are appointed by school boards. Would you favor changing the law to allow popular election of school superintendents and, if so, under what circumstances?

I voted to change the law to the current system of superintendent selection, and I believe it has served us well.

4) The state's voluntary pre-kindergarten program currently serves about 18,000 4-year-olds statewide. Would you favor expansion of the pre-k or, given the state's budget problems, would you support reduction or elimination of the program?

I supported the expansion of Pre-K in 2007. I fought to continue this program in 2009, and I will protect Pre-K and expand Pre-K when possible as Governor.

5) The Legislature recently adopted changes to state law on teacher evaluation and tenure in a special legislative session. Do you support those changes and what, if any, further steps should be taken to enhance the quality of teachers and principals in Tennessee?

I was proud to work with Governor Bredesen to pass what I think will be historic education reform. Unlike Washington Republicans and Democrats here in Tennessee we came together to do what was right for Tennessee families. We made significant changes to our tenure laws and teacher evaluation system. I believe these changes will utilize our nationally recognized TVAAS data system to enhance the quality of teachers and principals in Tennessee. We need to identify our best teachers and ensure they are mentors and leaders within our education system.

My brother has been a teacher and principal in the public school system and is someone I look to for practical common sense insight as to the management of our schools.

6) Should school boards be given any authority to impose raise revenue for education, through property taxes or otherwise, without county commission approval. If so, under what circumstances?

No.

7) Projections indicate that lottery revenues may not be sufficient to cover the cost of scholarship programs within two years. In distributing available dollars, would you put priority on maximizing the number or students who receive scholarships or on fully covering the cost of an education for those with the highest academic ratings?

If lottery revenues drop we need to make sure all lottery funds available are committed to scholarships and I have sponsored legislation to do just that. Right now we are using lottery money for other things like school construction. I believe that when people voted to create a lottery, they were voting for college scholarships. Given these tough economic times, it will be my priority to make sure every lottery dollar is for scholarships.

8) Tuition has increased at a greater pace than appropriation of state

dollars to higher education in recent years. What, if anything, should be done to reduce further increases in tuition?

A more efficient and streamlined higher education bureaucracy will cost the people of Tennessee less. By enhancing and improving our community college system we will create more opportunity at less cost for Tennesseans. I am committed to building that community college system.

9) Should the current three-part structure of higher education in Tennessee (a University of Tennessee system, a Board of Regents system and a Tennessee Higher Education Commission) be changed and, if so, how?

Despite the hard work of many educators, the system we have is inefficient and duplicitous, and does not accomplish the goal of providing a higher education system that is affordable and accessible for our citizens. As I have said from day one of this campaign “when hard work alone does not get it done, things must change.”

10) Why would your ability as governor to address education issues be superior to that of your opponents?

For 25 years, I have been involved in every positive education reform in Tennessee. I know how our system works, and I have made it my goal from day one of this campaign to build a higher education system focused on becoming an economic engine to create jobs for Tennesseans. I stand alone among the candidates as a leader who has set about improving our higher education system as his most significant goal, and as Governor, I will act on that goal from day one.

Ron Ramsey

1) The BEP, as revised under Gov. Bredesen three years ago, has not been fully implemented due to budget constraints. Would you fully fund the BEP and, if so, when, and do you believe it provides a fair distribution of state dollars to school districts?

I have partnered with Governor Bredesen to spare K-12 from the most painful cuts. Working together, we have shown that it can be done. I was very proud to appoint Sen. Jamie Woodson (now Speaker Pro Tem Woodson) as the Senate Education Committee Chairman and work with her as she authored the BEP 2.0 reforms. We have implemented as many of those reforms as the budget has allowed and I will continue to do so as Governor.

The Senate Republican BEP reforms created a much fairer distribution of state dollars to school districts and I count that as one of my greatest achievements as Lt. Governor. As Governor, I would handle the funding of BEP 2.0 the way it has been handled by Governor Bredesen and I: fund as much as you can as fast as you can within existing budget constraints. Unlike Washington, we cannot print money and we have to balance our budget every year.

2) As revised by the General Assembly in 2009, Tennessee law now allows charter schools in systems with at least 14,000 students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunches. Also, there can be no more than 90 charter schools statewide. Would you like to change the charter schools law and, if so, how?

The problem that plagues government education programs is a failure to realize what every parent knows: every child is special and unique; an individual. While some children thrive in the traditional public school setting, others do not. Many children excel in charter schools, which may or may not be religiously affiliated. Still others reach their potential in the home schooled environment.

Under my leadership, the legislature has passed an expansion of charter schools. I will continue that work as Governor by lifting the ban on the number of charter schools in Tennessee. That sort of arbitrary, top-down limit is silly and reeks of big government intrusion.

In addition, I have vowed to appoint a home school advocate to the state board of education. Tennessee's state board of education should represent the breadth of Tennessee's educational options and as governor I will make sure that happens.

3) Under current Tennessee law, school superintendents are appointed by school boards. Would you favor changing the law to allow popular election of school superintendents and, if so, under what circumstances?

I am in favor of allowing counties to choose the way in which they select a school superintendent. If a county education system experienced improvement when Tennessee allowed elected superintendents and that county wishes to return to such a system, then the county should have that choice.

It is clear some counties wish to return to the elected superintendent model and it is equally clear there are counties which have thrived under the appointed model. This is a decision that should be made at the county level.

4) The state's voluntary pre-kindergarten program currently serves about 18,000 4-year-olds statewide. Would you favor expansion of the pre-k or, given the state's budget problems, would you support reduction or elimination of the program?

The current pre-K program began under my leadership in the Senate and it is appropriate for at-risk youth. However, I disagree with those who say pre-K must be universal. A landmark study of Tennessee pre-K programs recently proved the benefits of pre-K disappear very quickly as children progress.

Mandatory pre-K is a bad idea because every child is unique. Many children are not ready for an institutional setting at such a young age and excel in different educational environments.

5) The Legislature recently adopted changes to state law on teacher evaluation and tenure in a special legislative session. Do you support those changes and what, if any, further steps should be taken to enhance the quality of teachers and principals in Tennessee?

Answered below in question #10.

6) Should school boards be given any authority to impose raise revenue for education, through property taxes or otherwise, without county commission approval. If so, under what circumstances?

School boards should not be given the authority to tax. While I understand the arguments of those who disagree with me, the best way to limit taxes is to limit those who have the power to tax.

7) Projections indicate that lottery revenues may not be sufficient to cover the cost of scholarship programs within two years. In distributing available dollars, would you put priority on maximizing the number or students who receive scholarships or on fully covering the cost of an education for those with the highest academic ratings?

I would focus those scarce dollars on fully covering scholarships for those who have earned them. This is not an issue where a leader can be indecisive and try to have it both ways. You either choose to lower standards and morph a lottery “scholarship” into an entitlement program or you maintain the vision of the program as it was described to voters as an earned, merit-based achievement.

8) Tuition has increased at a greater pace than appropriation of state dollars to higher education in recent years. What, if anything, should be done to reduce further increases in tuition?

As Governor, I will embark on an aggressive program to fine-tune the needs of Tennessee job creators with the curriculum of public higher education institutions. I will enlist the private sector to tell our schools, in great detail, what they need from graduates to ensure fulfilling, high paying jobs. I will match the job needs with the job skills. There is a model for this approach.

When the concrete industry in Tennessee realized there were not enough trained students coming into the industry, they partnered with MTSU to create curriculum and a new major in concrete industry management. The private sector provides scholarships as well as jobs for graduates. That's the way you bring down the cost of tuition. You partner students and industry so doors are opened for the students and businesses invest in our schools. It's a perfect match. That's my plan to not only bring tuition down, but lower the jobless rate and help Tennessee businesses expand.

But I will not stop there. My administration will search nationwide for job creators who are in need of an educated workforce in a specialized area whose needs are not being met. I will bring those CEO's together with university and community college presidents from Tennessee to lure their companies here with the promise of an educated workforce.

I have a personal goal in this area: when my job creation team lands to meet with an out-of-state CEO, I want the Governor of that state to realize that she or he is about to lose more jobs to Tennessee. Partnering education and business, I will lower tuition.

9) Should the current three-part structure of higher education in Tennessee (a University of Tennessee system, a Board of Regents system and a Tennessee Higher Education Commission) be changed and, if so, how?

I am a proud product of Tennessee public elementary and secondary schools and, in my own family, a third-generation graduate of East Tennessee State University. On the day I graduated from ETSU, I was prepared to go to work. Unfortunately, my experience was the exception, not the rule. The mission of our higher education system, whether 2 or 4-year institutions, should be to ensure that on the day a student graduates, s/he is ready to begin work in their chosen field.

We must fully integrate the job needs of Tennessee businesses with our higher education system. I will bring the private sector together with our higher education institutions so our universities and colleges know what kind of skills are highly sought in the real world.

I will review our three-part higher education system to determine if each entity can justify its existence in the vision I laid out above. I will provide guidance and a set of goals for each of them, but they must prove a need for their existence. That is the philosophy I have used as Lt. Governor for all government bodies and it will continue as Governor.

10) Why would your ability as governor to address education issues be superior to that of your opponents?

The answer to that question boils down to one thing: experience. I was there for the debate over Governor McWherter's original BEP plan and presided over the Senate in improving that plan in the last few years. But there is more to do.

If a school or a school system is failing, my Education Department will dive in to share and help implement the best practices and procedures from our best schools. A key function of a state Department of Education should be to act as a clearinghouse for what works - not just in Tennessee, but across the nation. Tennessee's state government, dominated for most of a century by one perspective, has historically been resistant to reform in education relative to other states. That must and will change under my administration.

I believe a key component of educational success is higher standards and the tougher graduation requirements that go with them. Frankly, we have no choice. If we are to attract the jobs and industry to improve our economy, we must educate a workforce that can compete in a knowledge-based economy. This push for higher standards must encompass our entire education approach, including the practice of teacher tenure.

When Governor Bredesen and I stood together last December to announce the education Special Session, tying teacher tenure to student success was a critical part of our message - and we accomplished just that. As Governor, I will be bold in my approach to education reform and will be guided by only one constituency: the students of our state.

Mike McWherter

1.The BEP, as revised under Gov. Bredesen three years ago, has not been fully implemented due to budget constraints. Would you fully fund the BEP and if so, when, and do you believe it provides a fair distribution of state dollars to school districts?

“I am committed to fully funding the basic BEP because it ensures that basic educational resources are fairly distributed to our public schools statewide. As funds become available, I will make investments to fund the BEP 2.0 additions. The Basic Education program was started back when my father was Governor, and it's been proven to help schools, particularly those in rural areas, get their fair share of funding.”

2. As revised by the General Assembly in 2009, Tennessee law now allows charter schools in systems with at least 14,000 students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunches. Also, there can be no more than 90 charter schools statewide. Would you like to change the charter schools law and, if so, how?

“In general I support the concept of charter schools. Last year's legislation was a major expansion of our charter school system, and I think it's important that, in the interest of ensuring all students are receiving a quality education, that we step back and measure the success of existing charter schools before we press ahead to expand with more. Additionally, I think that it is imperative that we hold all charter schools to the same rigorous standards as our public schools.”

3. Under current Tennessee law, school superintendents are appointed by school boards. Would you favor changing the law to allow popular election of school superintendents and, if so, under what circumstances?

“The last thing we need in Tennessee is to elect more politicians to run our schools. It's a bad idea to politicize the job of superintendent. We need to ensure that superintendents are professionals and are selected based on their educational and leadership skills. Our current system allows for a great amount of accountability - teachers are accountable to principals, principals are accountable to superintendents, and superintendents are accountable to the locally elected school boards.”

4. The state's voluntary pre-kindergarten program currently serves about 18,000 4-year-olds statewide. Would you favor expansion of the pre-k or given the state's budget problems, would you support the reduction or elimination of the program?

“I think one of the most important investments of Governor Bredesen's time in office has been the voluntary Pre-K program. We now have Pre-K classes in 94 of our 95 counties, and the state has a waiting list for over 300 new classrooms. I had the privilege of visiting a Pre-K class in Sevierville, and I saw first- hand how this voluntary program instills a passion for learning. We know for a fact that Pre-K works in helping preparing children to enter our educational system and fosters a love of learning. My kids attended a pre-K program, and I believe that all children, regardless of their socio-economic situation, should have the same opportunity my son and daughter had. While my first priority would be to fully fund the BEP, I would wholeheartedly support expanding Pre-K as the budget allows.”

5. The Legislataure recently adopted changes to the state law on teacher evaluation and tenure in a special legislative session. Do you support those changes and what, if any, further steps should be taken to enhance the quality of teachers and principals in Tennessee?

“I applaud Governor Bredesen's effort to reform education, and I supported the 'First to the Top' bill and the innovations it put forward for Tennessee schools. Tennessee has one of the best systems for collecting and tracking student achievement data, and I think it is important for us to use that data to help improve student learning.

As a businessman, I understand all too well the importance of ensuring that folks are given the proper resources and training they need to succeed on the job. Our teachers and principals are no different. Committed and caring classroom teachers are at the heart of education; we all have a teacher who inspired us and who made a difference in our lives. I know that the vast majority of Tennessee teachers work hard for their students and are good at what they do. For the sake of our children, we need to do a better job of evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of our educators and take steps to provide them with whatever resources are needed to help them succeed in the classroom. “

6. Should school boards be given any authority to impose raise revenue for education, through property taxes or otherwise, without county commission approval. If so, under what circumstances?

“I would not advocate any change in the law that governs how local revenues are currently collected or raised.”

7. Projections indicate that lottery revenues may not be sufficient to cover the cost of scholarship programs within two years. In distributing available dollars, would put priority on maximizing the number or students who receive scholarships or on fully covering the cost of an education for those with the highest academic ratings?

“While I think the lottery program has been a success on many levels, as with any program we should periodically re-assess overall how the funds are used. For example, I'm open to considering possible cost-neutral efforts at using the funds to help college students graduate quicker by going to summer school, and I'm open to considering how we can support students who choose a community college path into higher education.”

8. Tuition has increased at a greater pace than appropriation of state dollars to higher education in recent years. What, if anything, should be done to reduce further increases in tuition?

“I believe that increasing the role of community colleges in our higher education system is one step we can and should take toward reining in higher tuition costs for students. Community college campuses are way underutilized and should be considered as a resource closer to home for helping provide first and second year curriculum to college students. I also support efforts to rethink how we fund higher education as a whole, placing an emphasis more on academic performance than student body counts.”

9. Should the current three-part structure of higher education in Tennessee (a University of Tennessee system, a Board of Regents system and a Tennessee Higher Education Commission) be changed and, if so, how?

“Right now, I think the focus in higher education needs to be on enhancing academic performance and in making it easier for students to access their secondary education. While we should always be open to re-assessing how our higher education systems work and operate, I have no immediate plans to advance a comprehensive restructuring initiative at this time.”

10. Why would your ability as governor to address education issues be superior to that of your opponents?

“I'm a businessman, not a politician. I have spent my professional life creating jobs here at home. I know first-hand how important a good education is to earning a good paying job with a future. My whole perspective on education is deeply rooted in my experiences in business. That's why I believe our teachers should be well paid and well trained. It's why I believe we should demand greater accountability and make sure parents know more about what's going on. It's also why I believe we should consolidate spending so that money goes into the classroom, not into waste or duplication. As Governor, my pledge would be to set a goal of making our schools the best, regardless of where they are located - rural, suburban or urban schools. All should be the best.”

Kim McMillan

1) The BEP, as revised under Gov. Bredesen three years ago, has not been fully implemented due to budget constraints. Would you fully fund the BEP and, if so, when, and do you believe it provides a fair distribution of state dollars to school districts?

As a member of the General Assembly and subsequently as a member of Governor Bredesen's cabinet, I had the opportunity to work extensively on education related issues, including the BEP funding model and the revisions to the formula, known as “BEP 2.0”. I believe that many of the concerns regarding distribution of state dollars to school districts that had arisen since the enactment of the original BEP were addressed in BEP 2.0. The BEP was originally enacted in response to court decisions that sought to assure that every child in Tennessee, regardless of the size or wealth of the school district they attended, had the opportunity to receive an equal and adequate educational opportunity. I fully support this concept and the formula, was proud that for the 12 years I served in the Legislature, we were able to fully fund the BEP. BEP 2.0 was enacted with a gradual phase-in model of full funding to account for budget shortfalls, but, as Governor, I will be committed to placing full funding as one of my top priorities.

2) As revised by the General Assembly in 2009, Tennessee law now allows charter schools in systems with at least 14,000 students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunches. Also, there can be no more than 90 charter schools statewide. Would you like to change the charter schools law and, if so, how?

I believe public charter schools can offer unique opportunities for educational and personal growth but we must have a system of checks and balances and limitations so as not to take away from the support and funding of our traditional public school system. The original charter school bill and the subsequent revisions were a collaborative effort to explore ways to increase educational opportunities for Tennessee students with special interests and needs while allowing for supervision of growth and accountability of success of the public charter school model. As Governor, I will support the current law and would not seek to change it unless it is proven to be unsuccessful.

3) Under current Tennessee law, school superintendents are appointed by school boards. Would you favor changing the law to allow popular election of school superintendents and, if so, under what circumstances?

When the BEP was adopted, the appointment of school superintendents by elected school boards was included as an integral part of the reform legislation. I favor the appointment approach to selection of the superintendent as long as the board members remain as elective officeholders and accountable to the people they serve. As a member of the General Assembly and the Education committee, I consistently opposed efforts to change the law to return to a system of popular election of this position. I believe that the appointment process allows for elected officials to make a decision based on standards and qualifications without the pressure of partisan politics.

4) The state's voluntary pre-kindergarten program currently serves about 18,000 4-year-olds statewide. Would you favor expansion of the pre-k or, given the state's budget problems, would you support reduction or elimination of the program?

I believe that continued expansion of the voluntary pre-kindergarten program is vital to producing students who are ready and eager to learn when they begin school. Because Tennessee has raised its standards for performance, more is expected of children, even in kindergarten, and a pre-k experience can go a long way in helping children become ready to learn. As the prime sponsor of the legislation that created the first ever Pre-Kindergarten program in Tennessee, I have been able to see first-hand the difference that a quality program makes in my own local school system, as well as systems across the State. Nationwide studies show that pre-k programs help teachers by preparing children for a school routine, gives students confidence as they move into kindergarten and encourages parents because their children are excited about learning. I believe it is imperative that we expand the program in a measured, common sense way that will see results quickly without creating a drain on our education budget.

5) The Legislature recently adopted changes to state law on teacher evaluation and tenure in a special legislative session. Do you support those changes and what, if any, further steps should be taken to enhance the quality of teachers and principals in Tennessee?

Everyone-teachers, parents, administrators, students-realizes that quality education depends primarily on a teacher's ability to challenge and support students. I support the legislation recently approved in the special session on education as a collaborative effort among the stakeholders to improve education in Tennessee. A major reason for adopting the changes to teacher evaluations and tenure decisions was to become eligible to apply for, and hopefully receive, federal Race to the Top funding to support teachers across Tennessee through increased training, mentoring and professional development. I have consistently supported efforts in evaluating teachers that are based on student's progress and gains which consider the student's individual abilities but not raw test scores and individual performance numbers. The Sanders' value-added model is as close to anything I've seen that measures the effect the teacher is having on his/her students in the classroom. This evaluation model, which has been in effect and has been accumulating data in Tennessee for more than 17 years, also provides a way to identify those teachers who should be involved in training and mentor programs for others. The legislation also allows for a substantial portion of the evaluation to be based on other factors based the testing data, which I support. Tennessee is fortunate to have so many dedicated, knowledgeable and capable teachers and should encourage and support them as well by offering timely, effective training models that enable them to focus on professional growth rather than increased administrative tasks. Principals, who were teachers at one time, will also benefit from training geared toward encouraging the development of their managerial skills.

6) Should school boards be given any authority to impose raise revenue for education, through property taxes or otherwise, without county commission approval. If so, under what circumstances?

I believe the current structure that requires school boards to adopt and approve budgets and then submit them to local county commissions, or metropolitan governments where appropriate, is the system that should be retained. I do believe, however, that school boards often have a superior knowledge of the needs and structure of the school systems they were elected to govern, so I would favor a system where more cooperation and collaboration between the two bodies on funding issues could be achieved.

7) Projections indicate that lottery revenues may not be sufficient to cover the cost of scholarship programs within two years. In distributing available dollars, would you put priority on maximizing the number or students who receive scholarships or on fully covering the cost of an education for those with the highest academic ratings?

As one of the sponsors of the lottery bill when I was in the General Assembly, I know firsthand that the Legislature's intent was to focus on access to higher education for all and not just those at the top of their class. We adopted reasonable standards for obtaining the scholarship that required a substantial effort in high school while focusing on trying to increase the number of students who could afford and attend higher education. Since we all know that post-secondary education has become so very important in preparing our students for the jobs of the future, I believe that focusing on maximizing the number of students who can receive some additional support to attend should be our priority.

8) Tuition has increased at a greater pace than appropriation of state dollars to higher education in recent years. What, if anything, should be done to reduce further increases in tuition?

There are a number of things that can be done to address the tuition issue. First, we can, and should, make the transition from community college to a four-year college or university more seamless for students. Community colleges are still a very good value to begin a higher education program for many students. Second, every college and university should evaluate its programs of study to determine whether each area meets the common sense test of preparing the students for further study or a career. Many schools have already begun this process with the goal of equipping students with the knowledge and skills necessary to immediately begin working in their chosen field. Finally, as with all departments and services funded by the State, as Governor I will require each college and university to conduct a cost-benefit analysis of the programs and services funded with State dollars. By reducing costs, we can pass the savings on to students in the form of lower tuition. A number of these ideas were included in Governor Bredesen's Complete College Tennessee Act of 2010, recently passed in the special session. I support the legislation and as Governor will focus on implementation of the provisions.

9) Should the current three-part structure of higher education in Tennessee (a University of Tennessee system, a Board of Regents system and a Tennessee Higher Education Commission) be changed and, if so, how?

Each of the systems within Tennessee's current three-part structure of higher education has made, and continues to make, unique and important contributions to students in higher education. Clearly, our goal should always be the education, retention, graduation and job readiness of our students. The recently passed Complete College Tennessee Act of 2010 provides a number of mechanisms to further this goal while continuing to examine whether the overall structure should be changed. For example, the provision that requires that THEC establish a comprehensive statewide community college system to operate separately from the four year institutions within the Board of Regents is a step in the right direction. I believe we have the right direction in place to continue to bring the stakeholders together to make decisions regarding the continued future of higher education in our State. As Governor, I would use my knowledge of and experience in higher education to further our goals and implement what Governor Bredesen has developed.

10) Why would your ability as governor to address education issues be superior to that of your opponents?

Like a few of the other candidates, I have spent a substantial amount of time in the General Assembly working diligently to improve our education system, both as a member of the Education Committee and as Majority Leader sheparding Governor Bredesen's education initiatives through the Legislature. Unlike any of my opponents on either side of the aisle, I also have a great deal of policy and firsthand knowledge and experience from working directly with Governor Bredesen in the Executive Branch as a member of his cabinet and through my work with Austin Peay State University. I have a better understanding of all of the components, including funding, teacher evaluations and training, and the structure of our higher education system than any of the other candidates as a result of my experience. I am also the daughter of public school teachers, was educated in Tennessee public schools and universities, am the parent of children in Tennessee public schools and am an administrator and professor at a state-funded university. I have the ability to focus on the issues from the perspective of every single stakeholder involved in the education process. Additionally, while many of the other candidates have discussed the importance of education in economic development, I am the only candidate who has built a cooperative and collaborative effort between our educational institutions and corporate development and recruitment to bring new fields of study, new skills and new jobs to Tennessee.

Bill Gibbons

1) The BEP, as revised under Gov. Bredesen three years ago, has not been fully implemented due to budget constraints. Would you fully fund the BEP and, of so, when, and do you believe it provides a fair distribution of state dollars to school districts?

As governor, I will re-examine how our education dollars are being spent, as well as how they are being distributed under the BEP. We're spending about $8300 per student. According to SCORE, the average teacher salary is about $45,000. The basic math shows that the teacher's salary equals the approximate cost of educating five or six students. That suggests that too few of our education dollars are going into the classroom.

It's time to revise how we spend our K-12 education dollars, which, by the way, take up about 37 percent of all state revenue. The BEP formula is far too complex. At most, only a handful of bureaucrats understand it. I've talked with many local officials about the BEP formula, and all advocate a simpler, easier-to-understand basis for distributing state education funds.

2) As revised by the General Assembly in 2009, Tennessee law now allows charter schools in systems with at least 14,000 students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunches. Also, there can be no more than 90 charter schools statewide. Would you like to change the charter schools law and, if so, how?

Arizona has over 400 charter schools, Ohio over 300, and Michigan over 200. Yet, Tennessee has an arbitrary limit of of 90 charter schools. As governor, I will propose lifting the cap on charter schools in Tennessee, giving more communities and parents the opportunity to take advantage of this public school alternative to traditional public schools. Also, I want to make it easier to turn consistently low-performing schools over to private entities to operate as charter schools. The private entities should have the authority to replace any staff with new educators to the extent they deem necessary. In addition, making low-performing school facilities available would avoid the need for new charter school facilities. Restructuring low performing schools in this manner will give parents and their children greater access to the educational opportunities they deserve.

3) Under current Tennessee law, school superintendents are appointed by school boards. Would you favor changing the law to allow popular election of school superintendents and, if so, under what circumstances?

I do not favor changing the law to elect school superintendents. Superintendents should be accountable to a local elected body, but should otherwise be removed from politics.

4) The state’s voluntary pre-kindergarten program currently serves about 18,000 4-year-olds statewide. Would you favor expansion of the pre-k or, given the state’s budget problems, would you support reduction or elimination of the program?

As governor, it will be my goal to expand quality pre-K education and make it available to anyone who wants it. I have visited pre-kindergarten classrooms and have witnessed four year olds eager and excited to learn. Meaningful pre-K education is very important for child development and can set children on the right path to future educational success. Historically, Republicans in Tennessee have paved the way for formal learning during the early part of childhood. In 1971, Governor Winfield Dunn championed the kindergarten movement. As governor, I will be a champion for quality pre-K education. It is a critical investment in our state's future. North Carolina made a commitment to pre-K education in the mid-1990s. That commitment is credited for the state's increase in fourth grade test scores since 2001. We can have similar results in Tennessee.

5) The Legislature recently adopted changes to state law on teacher evaluation and tenure in a special legislative session. Do you support those changes and what, if any, further steps should be taken to enhance the quality of teachers and principals in Tennessee?

I support the legislature's changes. I know the most important factor in a successful school is the presence of top-notch teachers backed up by a strong principal who knows how to manage a school. Using performance-based evaluations for teachers to determine pay, promotions, retentions, and tenure will help us keep the many good teachers we have, recruit more of our best and brightest into teaching, and make it easier to get rid of those teachers who simply need to be doing something else. Student test scores should be part of performance-based evaluations, but so should classroom observation to determine the extent to which teachers are using best practices and addressing the unique needs of each student.

We are facing a teacher shortage, which is projected to get worse. We must be more aggressive in using alternative licensing programs as a way of recruiting professionals--especially those in science and math fields--to choose teaching as a second career. In addition, retired executives from both the private and public sectors could bring with them the management experience that could help them serve as effective principals.

As governor, I will ask the General Assembly to approve my proposed A+ Teacher Initiative. This initiative would modify the Hope Scholarship program to offer more scholarship money to students in colleges and universities in Tennessee who maintain a required grade point average and commit to teach in public schools for a certain number of years after graduation. Taken together, these steps can address our teacher shortage and ensure our schools are staffed with excellent teachers backed up by strong, effective principals.

6) Should school boards be given any authority to impose raise revenue for education, through property taxes or otherwise, without county commission approval. If so, under what circumstances?

I am not in favor of giving school boards the authority to levy taxes. I think it would create confusion with "too many chiefs" making taxing decisions and would ultimately lead to higher taxes. It's a bad idea.

7) Projections indicate that lottery revenues may not be sufficient to cover the cost of scholarship programs within two years. In distributing available dollars, would you put priority on maximizing the number of students who receive scholarships or on fully covering the cost of an education for those with the highest academic ratings?

We should remember that this is a scholarship program, not an across-the-board grant program. We should expect those receiving scholarship funds to maintain a reasonable grade point average. Continued availability of the scholarship should be an incentive for doing well in school. The lottery scholarship should also be used to accomplish other state goals, such as reducing our teacher shortage. As set forth in my A+ Teacher Initiative, additional scholarship funds should be made available to students who maintain a required grade point average and commit to serve as public school teachers in Tennessee for a certain number of years after graduation.

8) Tuition has increased at a greater pace than appropriation of state dollars to higher education in recent years. What, if anything, should be done to reduce further increases in tuition?

Let's be honest. Given the funding constraints, tuition is going to increase in many of our institutions of higher learning. But there are steps that can slow tuition growth. By decentralizing more decision making, some public higher education institutions could better manage their operations, find ways to lower costs and tighten their belts, better respond to the needs of students and individual communities, and more effectively go after much needed funding from private entities.

9) Should the current three-part structure of higher education in Tennessee (a University of Tennessee system, a Board of Regents system and a Tennessee Higher Education Commission) be changed and, if so, how?

It should be changed, but not in the way some are advocating. Right now, the Tennessee Board of Regents oversees 45 institutions of higher learning. That number is way too high for any one board to supervise. I don't think centralization is always the best answer, and combining those institutions with The University of Tennessee under one governing board would make matters worse. A separate board specifically designed to oversee community colleges and technical centers would better tie job training to available jobs in Tennessee and give those institutions more attention from state government. As a unique urban research university, The University of Memphis has made the case for its own separate governing board, and, as governor, I will propose that to the General Assembly. It is only one of two public universities in Tennessee officially designated as research universities. Some of the other universities currently under the supervision of the Board of Regents may deserve their own governing boards, and I will be open to that. The University of Tennessee is our flagship university with campuses across the state. It should maintain its separate governing board, and its Memphis campus desperately needs more attention as a major medical research institution. The Tennessee Higher Education Commission should remain as a coordinating entity. For example, it should lead the plan to standardize core curriculum at community colleges and ensure that the credits easily transfer to four year institutions.

10) Why would your ability as governor to address education issues be superior to that of your opponents?

My public service and private life demonstrate a long-term commitment to public education that no other candidate can match. My involvement with public schools has given me the experience necessary to tackle our state’s education issues. I value good public schools. My wife Julia and I are both products of public schools. I graduated from Central High School in Memphis, where teachers were demanding and expectations were high, and Julia was educated in Giles County schools. Our children attended excellent public schools in Memphis—Grahamwood Elementary and White Station Junior High and High Schools. Julia’s parents were both public school teachers in Tennessee. When I was in elementary school, my mother worked on occasion as a substitute teacher, riding the school bus with me to get to school. Many other family members also chose careers as public school teachers.

As a private citizen, I served as president of the Memphis Better Schools Initiative, a community-based group to foster support for public schools. At the suggestion of then U.S. Secretary of Education Lamar Alexander, I co-chaired Memphis 2000, a comprehensive public school planning effort. I mentored a first-grader at an inner city school and was involved in many public school service projects of my Rotary Club. I’ve been a volunteer campaign worker in school board elections. As a member of the Shelby County Board of Commissioners, I led the fight to give the Shelby County school system its own elected school board and provide additional funding for schools while trimming in other areas of the county budget to avoid a tax increase.

Recognizing that education is key to making our communities safer, as district attorney I have visited our middle schools regularly to share with students the reasons to avoid gangs and stay in school. I have worked closely with local school officials on efforts to reduce violence in schools and combat truancy through a mentoring program for middle school students. Here is part of what I have learned from all this: I have seen thousands of parents stay overnight at the school board to get their children into the public school of their choice. I’ve been one of those parents. I’ve seen low-income parents go the extra mile to get their children out of low-performing schools and into charter schools. I’ve talked to countless employers worried about attracting employees with the skills and values they need to be reliable and productive. Quite simply, I’ve been in the trenches, so I know that another candidate for governor who said a few months back that Tennessee lags in education because people don’t care is just wrong and out of touch.

My experience with public education issues in public and private life vastly exceeds that of the other candidates. I am prepared to take care of unfinished business and give our children the excellent public schools they deserve. Our investment in our children’s future will make Tennessee more competitive in a global economy, will create jobs, and will make Tennessee safer for our families. And down the road, it will mean less spending for public assistance and prisons.

Bill Haslam

1. The BEP, as revised under Gov. Bredesen three years ago, has not been fully implemented due to budget constraints. Would you fully fund the BEP and, of so, when, and do you believe it provides a fair distribution of state dollars to school districts?

I support the goal of the Basic Education Program (BEP) as well as the reforms enacted under Governor Bredesen three years ago, because I believe the program benefits most of the state's school districts - both rural and urban. Improving Tennessee's education system and preparing students for a 21st century workforce will be one of my highest priorities as governor.

However, fully funding the BEP - as it existed prior to Governor Bredesen's reforms - has to happen first. That alone will be challenging given the current budget crisis, but I am committed to honoring the state's promise to local districts. As the state faces a difficult budget situation over the next few years, I will do everything I can to protect education from painful cuts.

2. As revised by the General Assembly in 2009, Tennessee law now allows charter schools in systems with at least 14,000 students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunches. Also, there can be no more than 90 charter schools statewide. Would you like to change the charter schools law and, if so, how?

I support the new charter schools law. Allowing for innovation and choice in education is extremely important. Once we have experience with the implementation of this new law, we should evaluate whether there is additional unmet demand, and if so, pursue an expansion.

3. Under current Tennessee law, school superintendents are appointed by school boards. Would you favor changing the law to allow popular election of school superintendents and, if so, under what circumstances?

To me, it's about accountability. The appointed director of schools is accountable to an elected board of education. If a school superintendent is not serving the needs of students in the district, the elected school board can take action more promptly than the next election. A superintendent should be able to focus on one thing - making schools successful.

4. The state's voluntary pre-kindergarten program currently serves about 18,000 4-year-olds statewide. Would you favor expansion of the pre-k or, given the state's budget problems, would you support reduction or elimination of the program?

Early childhood learning is important, but there are many ways to create the environment necessary for children to get off to a good start. Lots of parents create it at home or at the homes of relatives, or at a church-run Pre-K program. That's why I support the voluntary nature of the current program and its focus on at-risk children. We certainly can't afford to expand the program right now, but we should maintain it where it already exists - in high-need areas - while we continue to evaluate its effectiveness. I will not support a mandatory Pre-K program.

5. The Legislature recently adopted changes to state law on teacher evaluation and tenure in a special legislative session. Do you support those changes and what, if any, further steps should be taken to enhance the quality of teachers and principals in Tennessee?

The recently passed reforms are certainly a step in the right direction. The key will be implementation, and the next governor must be prepared for pushback. I am committed to education reform, and as governor, I will work tirelessly to ensure our education system is preparing students for a 21st century workforce. However, one area I don't think has received enough attention is school principals.

From my years in business, I know that every location needs a well-trained leader working on-site with enough autonomy to make good decisions-a leader who can be held accountable for the operation under his or her supervision. As governor, I will develop a network of high quality regional leadership academies that partner with local school districts to identify and train the best and brightest to become principals. There are 1736 public schools in the state, and we must demand 1736 outstanding principals in order for each school and every student to be successful.

6. Should school boards be given any authority to raise revenue for education, through property taxes or otherwise, without county commission approval. If so, under what circumstances?

The last thing Tennesseans need is another entity with taxing authority. Moreover, the tension between funding bodies like county commissions and city councils and their school boards can provide useful checks and balances. I believe members of those funding bodies want schools to be good. This system keeps commission members and council members in tune with what's going on in our schools and what is needed. It also forces our school boards to justify their revenue requests. I don't favor a change at this point.

7. Projections indicate that lottery revenues may not be sufficient to cover the cost of scholarship programs within two years. In distributing available dollars, would you put priority on maximizing the number or students who receive scholarships or on fully covering the cost of an education for those with the highest academic ratings?

My decisions on matters like this will be driven by our policy goals - in this case promoting college access and success - and not solely on fluctuations in revenue. Right now, the HOPE Scholarship program creates incentives for students who might be more successful starting off at a community college to instead go straight to a four-year university. As governor, I will revisit the goals of the program and carefully evaluate its effectiveness at meeting those goals. I will work to enhance the impact of all lottery scholarship programs. For instance, there are ways to promote college access and actually save money, including providing more opportunities for high school students to get a jumpstart on college through dual enrollment classes.

8. Tuition has increased at a greater pace than appropriation of state dollars to higher education in recent years. What, if anything, should be done to reduce further increases in tuition?

We need to make sure our higher education institutions are operating as efficiently and effectively as possible. As governor, one of the first things I will do is perform a top-to-bottom review of state government in order to eliminate waste, set priorities, and ensure all state entities are effective and operating in a cost-conscious manner.

We must also make the cost of college more predictable. Right now, students and their parents cannot know the cost of tuition for the coming year until the legislature finalizes its annual budget. It makes no sense to ask students and their families to wait every year until the last possible minute to react to tuition hikes that are anywhere from 6% to 15% of the previous year's tuition.

9. Should the current three-part structure of higher education in Tennessee (a University of Tennessee system, a Board of Regents system and a Tennessee Higher Education Commission) be changed and, if so, how?

The first thing we need to do is assess the mission and purpose of our higher education institutions, which I believe should be geared toward preparing Tennesseans for a highly competitive 21st century workforce. After we've addressed mission - both of the entire higher education system and of each individual institution - then we can worry about governance.

10. Why would your ability as governor to address education issues be superior to that of your opponents?

As someone with more than 26 years of executive experience in private business and public service, I believe I am uniquely qualified to lead the effort to improve our schools and ensure all students in Tennessee receive a high quality education. One of the main reasons I'm running for governor is my sense that our education system is at a crossroads. If the next governor is fully committed to the essential reforms, we can make improvements that will change the course of our state's future. However, it will also take courage and focus. I recognize the incredible opportunity Tennessee has to improve its schools, and I have the courage, commitment, and executive experience required to be successful at reforming our education system.