Education is very important to Kentucky. Well over 60% of the state budget is devoted to education funding. We must invest in the education of our children if we expect to have productive citizens. An educated workforce is vital to the economic development of Kentucky .
However, just sending more and more money at education will not turn the educational system around. In the short term, the state plans to increase teacher funding should be tied to merit-based increases.
In the long term, I believe the education system would benefit greatly from a voucher system where money is attached to a child and they can take that anywhere.
I have submitted a bill the last two years to have the state pay for the Master degree of Kentucky teachers. In return, the teacher would continue to teach in Kentucky for another 5 years. I think this is important to making the requirement of getting a Masters degree much easier for our teachers.