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ERIC Number: ED592790
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2019-Jan
Pages: 10
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
11 Ways New Governors Can Lead on Education through Executive Actions
Sargrad, Scott; Partelow, Lisette; Yin, Jessica
Center for American Progress
The 2018 elections were historic on many levels, with the highest turnout in a midterm year since 1914, record numbers of women winning office, and the first Native American and Muslim women ever elected to Congress. At the state level, 36 governors' races were on the ballot, and 20 newly elected governors take office in January. As these 20 new governors begin their first terms in office, they will look for ways to make clear statements about their priorities and achieve quick wins to fulfill campaign promises. Although long-term investment in education must be a major focus throughout their tenures, governors can hit the ground running on this important issue by penning executive actions, which they can issue unilaterally. While there is no shortage of important issues for new governors to tackle, education deserves to be at the forefront of every state's agenda. This issue brief describes 11 state-level executive actions--from commissions and task forces to directives and investigations--that governors can enact immediately upon assuming office: (1) Establish a school infrastructure task force; (2) Convene a funding formula commission; (3) Create a commission charged with modernizing and elevating the teaching profession; (4) Issue a declaration of students' right to be free from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression; (5) Issue a directive to redesign high schools and improve workforce readiness; (6) Form a task force to align school schedules and services with the needs of working families; (7) Initiate an investigation of the for-profit and virtual charter sectors; (8) Set up a task force on school safety and positive school; (9) Establish a commission on the status of civics education; (10) Launch a task force on sexual health and education in schools; and (11) Issue a proclamation on the need for evidence-based, positive approaches to school discipline. After a historic election that swept newly elected officials into power in Washington and across the country, it is critical that these leaders quickly enact policies that will help solve the pressing problems people face. Chief among these policies must be bold measures to improve education and support students, parents, and teachers. With any of the 11 executive actions outlined in this brief, governors can make a strong statement about their priorities and what they intend to accomplish.
Center for American Progress. 1333 H Street NW 10th Floor, Washington, DC 20005. Tel: 202-682-1611; Web site: http://www.americanprogress.org
Publication Type: Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: High Schools; Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: Center for American Progress
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A