Issue Position: Education

Issue Position

Neither of my parents had more than an eighth grade education, but no one understood or appreciated the value of education more than they did. And, this appreciation was instilled in both of my sisters and me. I cannot remember a time when we were growing up that we did not know a college education was in our future, and our parents saved and sacrificed to ensure we would get a college degree someday.

If Kentucky is going to compete in the new global marketplace, the lack of a quality education is no longer an option. The very success of our state rests upon having a qualified, trained and skilled workforce to meet the needs of present and prospective employers.

Yet, state government continues to cut funding to all levels of our educational system, but still demands increased accountability of our teachers to provide quality education without providing them with the resources to accomplish this task. This is like sending soldiers into battle without guns and ammunition. In the current budget, Governor Beshear has rolled back funding for kindergarten through grades 12 to 2008 funding levels! Funding for the purchase of textbooks for our children has been reduced from $21 million to $640,000! Cuts of this magnitude will harm our schools and our children for years to come.

At the same time, cuts to funding for our universities have resulted in higher tuition for our students and their parents who are already struggling financially to pay for their children's education. During the last decade, the University of Kentucky's tuition increased by 147% while Western Kentucky University's tuition increased by a staggering 179%. These increases represent nothing more than a hidden tax on parents and young people trying to improve the quality of life for themselves and their families.

Adequate funding for education has to be a priority for Kentucky!

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