Bullock for President
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, October 11, 2019

Governor Bullock Rolls Out Plan to Revitalize American Education

Helena, MT – Montana Governor Steve Bullock today announced a comprehensive plan to revitalize education policy and strengthen public schools by doubling federal investment in K-12, making community college tuition-free, and guaranteeing universal pre-k for every family who wants to participate.

Access to a quality education is one of our country’s Great Equalizers and a crucial component of achieving the American Dream. When we fail to invest in our schools, we stifle opportunity for millions of Americans and limit our future potential as a country. That’s why Governor Bullock’s plan focuses on equipping schools for success, encouraging innovation in education, making college affordable, investing in HBCUs, and supporting all types of careers — including for the 60% of Americans who don’t have or pursue a college degree. 

“Public education is one of the great equalizers in American life. Guaranteeing access to good schools and opportunity is one of the best ways to ensure everyone has a fair shot at a better life,” said Montana Governor Steve Bullock. “Every child deserves a quality education, and this plan ensures our educators, schools, and students have the resources to meet this opportunity. Our children’s future is too important for plans that go nowhere. That’s why my plan offers comprehensive, achievable solutions to reform our education system and invest in our country’s future.”

Read the full plan here.

Highlights from the proposal: 

Equipping Our Schools for Success

• Double federal investment in K-12 education to regain America’s competitive education advantage.
• Governor Bullock will appoint a Secretary of Education who has experience as an educator and ensure our teachers and other education professionals should be front and center when we craft education policies.
• Work with Congress to ensure access to universal pre-k for every family who wants to participate. Early childhood education and preschool improve a child’s educational achievement throughout their school years while preparing them for success as an adult.
• Oppose vouchers, for-profit charter schools, and privatization of our public schools
• Fully fund the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) during his first term.
• Ensure funding flows to schools with the highest concentrations of low-income or minority students by re-evaluating Title I formulas.
• Invest in strengthening rural schools.
• Boost funding for afterschool and summer programs that help close the achievement gap.
• Increase funding for school-based mental health.
• Aggressively protect the rights of all students to an education free of discrimination or harassment by directing the Office of Civil Rights to prioritize protection of all public school students.
• Boost funding for breakfast and after-school meal programs to ensure every child is well nourished at school, over the summer, and during vacations.
• As proposed in his rural plan, Governor Bullock will help schools purchase more of that food from local sources.

Innovating in Public Education

• Invest to ensure under-served and low-performing schools can attract, support, and retain more effective teachers, principals, support professionals, and specialized staff.
• Improve and expand training for principals because quality school leadership matters for a quality education.
• Cut down on over-testing to broaden students’ educations. While accountability is important in education, over-testing crowds-out the arts, physical education, and even recess.
• Increase funding for restorative justice and trauma-informed practices in schools.

Supporting All Types of Careers

• Increase Pell Grant eligibility to serve more families.
• Provide financial support for students to obtain employer-recognized certificates, helping secure jobs that can sustain a family without years of school.
• Offer tax credits for employers who bring on apprentices or offer work-based learning opportunities.
• Direct the Securities and Exchange Commission to require companies to disclose investments in workers and workforce training.

Making College Affordable

• Provide free tuition for community college attendance.
• Allow employers to contribute up to $5,250/year tax free to an employee’s student loan repayments — and don’t require employees to pay income tax on this benefit.
• Reclaim federal management over student loan initiation, lower interest rates, and allow for refinancing if interest rates drop.
• Treat workforce investments in employees as an asset rather than an expense to incentivize companies to develop their employee’s skills.
• Expand and improve public service student loan repayment programs so young people can afford to go to college and give back to their country.

Investing in Minority Serving Institutions (MSI)

• Invest in the vital role of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
• Governor Bullock will do the same for Hispanic Serving Institutions and Tribal Colleges and Universities to boost the flow of federal dollars to these institutions.
• Support Representative Alma Adams’ HBCU PARTNERS Act to get the federal government to strategically engage with HBCUs and codify the President’s Board of Advisors on HBCUs.