Tennant Unveils Education Agenda as Part of Overall Jobs Plan

Press Release

West Virginia Secretary of State and U.S. Senate nominee Natalie Tennant today unveiled her Education Agenda, kicking off a statewide tour to gather feedback from West Virginia students, teachers, and communities. Tennant has long said creating jobs is her number one priority and that making sure West Virginia workers have the skills and training to fill the jobs of the future is critical to success.

Tennant highlighted startling statistics that show West Virginia workers lack the skills and training to fill the jobs available in today's economy.

"Helping businesses create good-paying is my number one priority, and promoting world-class education from Head Start all the way through college and technical training is a key part of that plan. The fact is we can create all the good-paying jobs in the world, but it won't do us any good if we don't give West Virginia workers the skills they need to fill those jobs," said Tennant who comes from a family of teachers and is endorsed by the West Virginia Education Association and the West Virginia chapter of American Federation of Teachers.

"No one is more committed to cutting spending than I am. I cut my own budget in the Secretary of State's Office and gave $3 million back to the taxpayers of this state. But, I will not balance the budget by cutting programs like Head Start and Pell grants that give West Virginia students the hand up they need to land good-paying jobs, while Wall Street millionaires get a hand out from the tax code. Make no mistake, we can afford to invest in West Virginia's future -- in fact, we can't afford not to. We simply have to choose West Virginia students over millionaires and corporations that ship jobs overseas."

Tennant pointed to policy options leaked from the U.S. Senate Budget Committee late last year that show billions of dollars in savings that could come from closing loopholes for millionaires in the tax code and ending tax breaks for companies that ship jobs overseas (Read More HERE).

By 2018, nearly half of all jobs in West Virginia will require some degree of post-secondary training and the number of jobs that require a college degree will increase by 20,000.

The National Skills Coalition in 2009 found that only 45 percent of West Virginia workers had the necessary skills for a middle-skill job -- things like air traffic controllers, truck drivers and police officers. Middle-skill jobs make up a majority of the jobs in West Virginia's economy -- 54 percent -- and they cannot be outsourced.
Tennant hosted a roundtable discussion today with West Virginia teachers at Marshall University to highlight her proposals to strengthen higher education. On Monday, Tennant announced her support for legislation to lower interest rates on student loans by closing loopholes that allow millionaires to pay fewer in taxes than middle class families.

Tennant's father is a retired principal and her mother was a teacher. Five of Tennant's six siblings -- four brothers and one sister -- are teachers. Tennant is proud to have the endorsement of the West Virginia chapter of the American Federation of Teachers and the West Virginia Education Association.

Tennant's Education Agenda is the third in a series of policy proposals she is unveiling throughout the summer. Tennant has been on a 55-county tour since January and her policy agenda is designed to address the issues West Virginians have raised along the way.

On June 16, Tennant released her Jobs and Business AgendaCoal and Energy Jobs Agenda at a made-in-America apparel shop in Morgantown and with a speech at the AFL-CIO convention. Earlier that month, Tennant unveiled her at a coal miner training facility in Raleigh County.

Tennant says that she is running to put West Virginia first and is asking for public comment on her Agenda to ensure all West Virginians' voices are heard. Tennant is asking West Virginians to read her Education Agenda by going to on her website at NatalieTennant.com and clicking on "Issues," then "Education." West Virginians are encouraged to send input to Education@NatalieTennant.com.

Tennant's Education Agenda is designed to give West Virginia students the skills needed to land good-paying jobs.

Early Childhood Education
Tennant will fight against dangerous budgets that cuts Head Start while handing out tax breaks for millionaires.

Public School Teachers
Tennant supports legislation to encourage more West Virginians to become teachers by forgiving student loans for graduates who pursue careers in teaching. Tennant will also look for additional ways to attract and keep quality teacher in rural states like West Virginia through tax credits and other incentives.

Boosting Student Achievement through Local Control
Tennant believes accountability is key to improving student achievement in West Virginia, and that local teachers, schools and communities know best what their students need. So, she will support efforts to ensure the State Department of Education, teachers and local districts have a voice in the process.
Tennant will work to make sure Washington recognizes the unique challenges of rural schools and school districts when awarding competitive grants.

21st Century Infrastructure and Tools
Tennant will fight to improve classrooms and boost broadband access across West Virginia.

College Affordability
Tennant will work to pass the Bank on Students Emergency Loan Refinancing Act that allows students to refinance their loans for lower rates.
Tennant will fight tooth and nail against dangerous budgets that cut Pell Grants 1,280 West Virginia Students rely on each year.

Community and Technical Colleges and Jobs Training
Tennant knows many students are better served by community and technical colleges than traditional 4 year institution, and she will support the great work these facilities are doing to train West Virginia workers for West Virginia jobs.

World-Class Research
Tennant will be a strong advocate for grants that are powering world-class research across West Virginia.

Tennant will look for ways the federal government can boost state efforts to expand STEM education.

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