BEGIN REMARKS AS PREPARED FOR DELIVERY

I am pleased to be here with you today in our capital city—one of the greenest cities in the nation. Green industry and green-collar jobs are the way of the future. Texas must spend more to attract good paying, green jobs and green industry to Texas.

Governor Perry could have done this, with his economic development slush fund that he uses to reward political cronies. Instead, he has resisted every attempt by the Legislature and every call for reform. When I’m governor, I’m going to launch the Texas Green Industry Initiative to bring green industry to Texas, help existing Texas industries make the transition to the green economy, and bring more good paying, green jobs to Texas. The kind of highly-skilled jobs green industry will bring to Texas is one reason why k-12 education reform is so important.

All important reforms come at a cost and what I’m proposing today is no exception. However, we can no longer act as though the critical changes we need to make are out of reach. We have wasted decades getting mired down on cost and never really looked at the merits of the plan… or what it would do to build the economy long term. This fixation on cost to the exclusion of benefit is the reason I will hold my school finance package until November 24. Until then, every couple of weeks, we’ll be adding more pieces to this plan in roll outs across the state. Make no mistake, finance reform is just as important, especially to beleaguered property owners like myself.

As a former teacher and father of two boys who attend public school, education is very important to me. That’s why I’m making a pledge to you today that I will send the Texas Legislature a comprehensive education reform package in not just my first term but in my first week in office, and I’ll ask the legislature to pass it. We haven’t had comprehensive education reform in Texas since House Bill 72 passed in a special session in 1984. That’s at least a decade too long. Texans can’t wait any longer for real, comprehensive reform.

I want to share some alarming statistics to give you an idea of why there is such urgency surrounding comprehensive K-12 reform:

• Texas ranks third in the nation in terms of money spent on public education, but 45^th in the nation in terms of dollars spent per student.
• Texas ranks 34^th in the nation when it comes to average teacher salaries.
• Texas ranks dead last in terms of the percent of our population over age 25 with a high school diploma.
• Our high school graduation rate is the 41^st worst in the nation.

Those statistics sicken me but they appear to have no effect on Governor Perry or Senator Hutchison. They’ve spent a combined four decades in office either dodging the issue of education reform or trying to hold a broken system together with paste and modeling clay.

Today, I’m proposing a sweeping dropout reform package that includes free, online tutoring available to all Texas public school students, catch up programs for credit delinquent students, and more.

Lawmakers often have the misconception that one good reform—like dropout reform—will have a magical effect on the entire system. It doesn’t. That’s why my reform package is multi-faceted, and all encompassing:

Because the foundation of good students is a quality education in the early years of childhood, I’m proposing universal pre-kindergarten statewide by 2013.

Because the middle school grades have long been ignored by our policymakers in Austin, I’m proposing a package of middle school reforms that will get students ready for high school and the future.

Because math and science will help make our children into the kind of problem solvers we need for the 21^st century, I’m proposing strengthening math and science education in elementary, middle and high schools.

Because our economy needs students with valued skills and certifications in fields like nursing and electronics, I’m proposing a vocational and technical high school graduation track that includes stakeholder partnerships between schools, unions, and businesses to give students access to apprenticeships and real world experience. Because the child sitting in a desk on the back row of any classroom in any school district in Texas could be the next Bill Gates or Steve Jobs, I’m proposing expanding curriculum offerings to include coursework in entrepreneurship.

Teachers are among society’s most important professionals, and among our state’s least valued assets. That’s why I’m proposing an across the board $5,000 teacher pay raise and busting the cap on the State Minimum Salary Schedule out to 30 years to attract and retain more qualified teachers.

We’re also going to end the “test and punish” culture in student assessment and school accountability.

Curriculum isn’t the only thing we need to reform. Our schools are crying out for better facilities. Since we’ll need 21^st century schoolhouses to accommodate all of these 21^st century reforms, I’m proposing a state building fund to help schools meet their physical plant requirements for the next decade and beyond.

It is also high time we took politics out of curriculum development and textbook adoption. Copernicus settled the fact that the Earth revolved around the sun back in the 1500s. In the 21^st century, we don’t need a bunch of ignorant, though well intentioned, people trying to tell our kids that it works the other way around.

Over the next couple of months, you’re going to hear a lot more from me- on education and other issues. I wanted to focus on education today because it is the single-largest issue facing our state at this time. The future of our economy depends on creating  school systems that prepare our children to succeed by giving them the knowledge and skills to prosper. It’s the only guaranteed way of bringing long term prosperity back to this state.

Download a copy of these remarks in Microsoft Word format

BEGIN REMARKS AS PREPARED FOR DELIVERY

I’m proud to be launching my campaign for Texas governor and releasing my k-12 education plan here in Beaumont today.

All important reforms come at a cost and what I’m proposing today is no exception. However, we can no longer act as though the critical changes we need to make are out of reach. We have wasted decades getting mired down on cost and never really looked at the merits of the plan… or what it would do to build the economy long term. This fixation on cost to the exclusion of benefit is the reason I will hold my school finance package until November 24. Until then, every couple of weeks, we’ll be adding more pieces to this plan in roll outs across the state. Make no mistake, finance reform is just as important, especially to beleaguered property owners like myself.

As a former teacher and father of two boys who attend public school, education is very important to me. That’s why I’m making a pledge to you today that I will send the Texas Legislature a comprehensive education reform package in not just my first term but in my first week in office, and I’ll ask the legislature to pass it. We haven’t had comprehensive education reform in Texas since House Bill 72 passed in a special session in 1984. That’s at least a decade too long. Texans can’t wait any longer for real, comprehensive reform.

I want to share some alarming statistics to give you an idea of why there is such urgency surrounding comprehensive K-12 reform:

• Texas ranks third in the nation in terms of money spent on public education, but 45^th in the nation in terms of dollars spent per student.
• Texas ranks 34^th in the nation when it comes to average teacher salaries.
• Texas ranks dead last in terms of the percent of our population over age 25 with a high school diploma.
• Our high school graduation rate is the 41^st worst in the nation.

Those statistics sicken me but they appear to have no effect on Governor Perry or Senator Hutchison. They’ve spent a combined four decades in office either dodging the issue of education reform or trying to hold a broken system together with paste and modeling clay.

Today, I’m proposing a sweeping dropout reform package that includes free, online tutoring available to all Texas public school students, catch up programs for credit delinquent students, and more.

Lawmakers often have the misconception that one good reform—like dropout reform—will have a magical effect on the entire system. It doesn’t. That’s why my reform package is multi-faceted, and all encompassing:

Because the foundation of good students is a quality education in the early years of childhood, I’m proposing universal pre-kindergarten statewide by 2013.

Because the middle school grades have long been ignored by our policymakers in Austin, I’m proposing a package of middle school reforms that will get students ready for high school and the future.

Because math and science will help make our children into the kind of problem solvers we need for the 21^st century, I’m proposing strengthening math and science education in elementary, middle and high schools.

Because our economy needs students with valued skills and certifications in fields like nursing and electronics, I’m proposing a vocational and technical high school graduation track that includes stakeholder partnerships between schools, unions, and businesses to give students access to apprenticeships and real world experience. Because the child sitting in a desk on the back row of any classroom in any school district in Texas could be the next Bill Gates or Steve Jobs, I’m proposing expanding curriculum offerings to include coursework in entrepreneurship.

Teachers are among society’s most important professionals, and among our state’s least valued assets. That’s why I’m proposing an across the board $5,000 teacher pay raise and busting the cap on the State Minimum Salary Schedule out to 30 years to attract and retain more qualified teachers.

We’re also going to end the “test and punish” culture in student assessment and school accountability.

Curriculum isn’t the only thing we need to reform. Our schools are crying out for better facilities. Since we’ll need 21^st century schoolhouses to accommodate all of these 21^st century reforms, I’m proposing a state building fund to help schools meet their physical plant requirements for the next decade and beyond.

It is also high time we took politics out of curriculum development and textbook adoption. Copernicus settled the fact that the Earth revolved around the sun back in the 1500s. In the 21^st century, we don’t need a bunch of ignorant, though well intentioned, people trying to tell our kids that it works the other way around.

Over the next couple of months, you’re going to hear a lot more from me- on education and other issues. I wanted to focus on education today because it is the single-largest issue facing our state at this time. The future of our economy depends on creating  school systems that prepare our children to succeed by giving them the knowledge and skills to prosper. It’s the only guaranteed way of bringing long term prosperity back to this state.

A copy of these remarks can be downloaded in Microsoft Word format here

BEGIN REMARKS AS PREPARED FOR DELIVERY

I’m honored to launch my campaign today in Houston—and here in Seabrook—and to unveil my education reform package today.

First, I want to address something that I know is near and dear to the hearts of Gulf Coast Residents. We’re standing this evening in front of Capt. Wick’s, a Seabrook landmark since 1978. It was heavily damaged by Hurricane Ike, and is still waiting to be rebuilt. Too much of the Gulf Coast is like that today.

More than a year after Hurricane Ike hit the Texas Gulf Coast, there are still neighborhoods in Houston where blue tarps take the place of Texas families having a real roof over their heads. Insurance companies have underpaid—and in some cases, not paid at all—leaving Texas families and small business owners between a rock and a hard place.

Texas consumers and business owners aren’t the only ones suffering from the Texas insurance crisis. Gulf Coast school districts are suffering, too. Many schools are forced to bear high burdens to repair structures damaged by Ike, and insurance companies and FEMA were not paying for everything.

School districts are now having to take money out of the classroom and spend it on infrastructure—and higher insurance premiums—to rebuild and protect their facilities. Rick Perry has been a dismal failure when it comes to holding insurance companies accountable.

When I’m governor, that will change.

All important reforms come at a cost and what I’m proposing today is no exception. However, we can no longer act as though the critical changes we need to make are out of reach. We have wasted decades getting mired down on cost and never really looked at the merits of the plan… or what it would do to build the economy long term. This fixation on cost to the exclusion of benefit is the reason I will hold my school finance package until November 24. Until then, every couple of weeks, we’ll be adding more pieces to this plan in roll outs across the state. Make no mistake, finance reform is just as important, especially to beleaguered property owners like myself.

As a former teacher and father of two boys who attend public school, education is very important to me. That’s why I’m making a pledge to you today that I will send the Texas Legislature a comprehensive education reform package in not just my first term but in my first week in office, and I’ll ask the legislature to pass it. We haven’t had comprehensive education reform in Texas since House Bill 72 passed in a special session in 1984. That’s at least a decade too long. Texans can’t wait any longer for real, comprehensive reform.

I want to share some alarming statistics to give you an idea of why there is such urgency surrounding comprehensive K-12 reform:

• Texas ranks third in the nation in terms of money spent on public education, but 45^th in the nation in terms of dollars spent per student.
• Texas ranks 34^th in the nation when it comes to average teacher salaries.
• Texas ranks dead last in terms of the percent of our population over age 25 with a high school diploma.
• Our high school graduation rate is the 41^st worst in the nation.

Those statistics sicken me but they appear to have no effect on Governor Perry or Senator Hutchison. They’ve spent a combined four decades in office either dodging the issue of education reform or trying to hold a broken system together with paste and modeling clay.

Today, I’m proposing a sweeping dropout reform package that includes free, online tutoring available to all Texas public school students, catch up programs for credit delinquent students, and more.

Lawmakers often have the misconception that one good reform—like dropout reform—will have a magical effect on the entire system. It doesn’t. That’s why my reform package is multi-faceted, and all encompassing:

Because the foundation of good students is a quality education in the early years of childhood, I’m proposing universal pre-kindergarten statewide by 2013.

Because the middle school grades have long been ignored by our policymakers in Austin, I’m proposing a package of middle school reforms that will get students ready for high school and the future.

Because math and science will help make our children into the kind of problem solvers we need for the 21^st century, I’m proposing strengthening math and science education in elementary, middle and high schools.

Because our economy needs students with valued skills and certifications in fields like nursing and electronics, I’m proposing a vocational and technical high school graduation track that includes stakeholder partnerships between schools, unions, and businesses to give students access to apprenticeships and real world experience. Because the child sitting in a desk on the back row of any classroom in any school district in Texas could be the next Bill Gates or Steve Jobs, I’m proposing expanding curriculum offerings to include coursework in entrepreneurship.

Teachers are among society’s most important professionals, and among our state’s least valued assets. That’s why I’m proposing an across the board $5,000 teacher pay raise and busting the cap on the State Minimum Salary Schedule out to 30 years to attract and retain more qualified teachers.

We’re also going to end the “test and punish” culture in student assessment and school accountability.

Curriculum isn’t the only thing we need to reform. Our schools are crying out for better facilities. Since we’ll need 21^st century schoolhouses to accommodate all of these 21^st century reforms, I’m proposing a state building fund to help schools meet their physical plant requirements for the next decade and beyond.

It is also high time we took politics out of curriculum development and textbook adoption. Copernicus settled the fact that the Earth revolved around the sun back in the 1500s. In the 21^st century, we don’t need a bunch of ignorant, though well intentioned, people trying to tell our kids that it works the other way around.

Over the next couple of months, you’re going to hear a lot more from me- on education and other issues. I wanted to focus on education today because it is the single-largest issue facing our state at this time. The future of our economy depends on creating  school systems that prepare our children to succeed by giving them the knowledge and skills to prosper. It’s the only guaranteed way of bringing long term prosperity back to this state.

Download a copy of these remarks in Microsoft Word format

BEGIN REMARKS AS PREPARED FOR DELIVERY

I’m pleased to be with you here in Corpus Christi this afternoon. Corpus has always been one of my favorite stops in Texas, and I look forward to coming back and visiting with you many times over the coming weeks and months.

All important reforms come at a cost and what I’m proposing today is no exception. However, we can no longer act as though the critical changes we need to make are out of reach. We have wasted decades getting mired down on cost and never really looked at the merits of the plan… or what it would do to build the economy long term. This fixation on cost to the exclusion of benefit is the reason I will hold my school finance package until November 24. Until then, every couple of weeks, we’ll be adding more pieces to this plan in roll outs across the state. Make no mistake, finance reform is just as important, especially to beleaguered property owners like myself.

As a former teacher and father of two boys who attend public school, education is very important to me. That’s why I’m making a pledge to you today that I will send the Texas Legislature a comprehensive education reform package in not just my first term but in my first week in office, and I’ll ask the legislature to pass it. We haven’t had comprehensive education reform in Texas since House Bill 72 passed in a special session in 1984. That’s at least a decade too long. Texans can’t wait any longer for real, comprehensive reform.

I want to share some alarming statistics to give you an idea of why there is such urgency surrounding comprehensive K-12 reform:

• Texas ranks third in the nation in terms of money spent on public education, but 45^th in the nation in terms of dollars spent per student.
• Texas ranks 34^th in the nation when it comes to average teacher salaries.
• Texas ranks dead last in terms of the percent of our population over age 25 with a high school diploma.
• Our high school graduation rate is the 41^st worst in the nation.

Those statistics sicken me but they appear to have no effect on Governor Perry or Senator Hutchison. They’ve spent a combined four decades in office either dodging the issue of education reform or trying to hold a broken system together with paste and modeling clay.

Today, I’m proposing a sweeping dropout reform package that includes free, online tutoring available to all Texas public school students, catch up programs for credit delinquent students, and more.

Lawmakers often have the misconception that one good reform—like dropout reform—will have a magical effect on the entire system. It doesn’t. That’s why my reform package is multi-faceted, and all encompassing:

Because the foundation of good students is a quality education in the early years of childhood, I’m proposing universal pre-kindergarten statewide by 2013.

Because the middle school grades have long been ignored by our policymakers in Austin, I’m proposing a package of middle school reforms that will get students ready for high school and the future.

Because math and science will help make our children into the kind of problem solvers we need for the 21^st century, I’m proposing strengthening math and science education in elementary, middle and high schools.

Because our economy needs students with valued skills and certifications in fields like nursing and electronics, I’m proposing a vocational and technical high school graduation track that includes stakeholder partnerships between schools, unions, and businesses to give students access to apprenticeships and real world experience. Because the child sitting in a desk on the back row of any classroom in any school district in Texas could be the next Bill Gates or Steve Jobs, I’m proposing expanding curriculum offerings to include coursework in entrepreneurship.

Teachers are among society’s most important professionals, and among our state’s least valued assets. That’s why I’m proposing an across the board $5,000 teacher pay raise and busting the cap on the State Minimum Salary Schedule out to 30 years to attract and retain more qualified teachers.

We’re also going to end the “test and punish” culture in student assessment and school accountability.

Curriculum isn’t the only thing we need to reform. Our schools are crying out for better facilities. Since we’ll need 21^st century schoolhouses to accommodate all of these 21^st century reforms, I’m proposing a state building fund to help schools meet their physical plant requirements for the next decade and beyond.

It is also high time we took politics out of curriculum development and textbook adoption. Copernicus settled the fact that the Earth revolved around the sun back in the 1500s. In the 21^st century, we don’t need a bunch of ignorant, though well intentioned, people trying to tell our kids that it works the other way around.

Over the next couple of months, you’re going to hear a lot more from me- on education and other issues. I wanted to focus on education today because it is the single-largest issue facing our state at this time. The future of our economy depends on creating  school systems that prepare our children to succeed by giving them the knowledge and skills to prosper. It’s the only guaranteed way of bringing long term prosperity back to this state.

Download a copy of these remarks in Microsoft Word format

BEGIN REMARKS AS PREPARED FOR DELIVERY

I’m excited to be in McAllen and the Rio Grande Valley this morning to launch my campaign for governor and unveil my package of k-12 education reforms. For decades, our governor has long neglected the Valley—or paid attention it only when it suited his political purposes. When I’m governor, that will change.

All important reforms come at a cost and what I’m proposing today is no exception. However, we can no longer act as though the critical changes we need to make are out of reach. We have wasted decades getting mired down on cost and never really looked at the merits of the plan… or what it would do to build the economy long term. This fixation on cost to the exclusion of benefit is the reason I will hold my school finance package until November 24. Until then, every couple of weeks, we’ll be adding more pieces to this plan in roll outs across the state. Make no mistake, finance reform is just as important, especially to beleaguered property owners like myself.

As a former teacher and father of two boys who attend public school, education is very important to me. That’s why I’m making a pledge to you today that I will send the Texas Legislature a comprehensive education reform package in not just my first term but in my first week in office, and I’ll ask the legislature to pass it. We haven’t had comprehensive education reform in Texas since House Bill 72 passed in a special session in 1984. That’s at least a decade too long. Texans can’t wait any longer for real, comprehensive reform.

I want to share some alarming statistics to give you an idea of why there is such urgency surrounding comprehensive K-12 reform:

• Texas ranks third in the nation in terms of money spent on public education, but 45^th in the nation in terms of dollars spent per student.
• Texas ranks 34^th in the nation when it comes to average teacher salaries.
• Texas ranks dead last in terms of the percent of our population over age 25 with a high school diploma.
• Our high school graduation rate is the 41^st worst in the nation.

Those statistics sicken me but they appear to have no effect on Governor Perry or Senator Hutchison. They’ve spent a combined four decades in office either dodging the issue of education reform or trying to hold a broken system together with paste and modeling clay.

Today, I’m proposing a sweeping dropout reform package that includes free, online tutoring available to all Texas public school students, catch up programs for credit delinquent students, and more.

Lawmakers often have the misconception that one good reform—like dropout reform—will have a magical effect on the entire system. It doesn’t. That’s why my reform package is multi-faceted, and all encompassing:

Because the foundation of good students is a quality education in the early years of childhood, I’m proposing universal pre-kindergarten statewide by 2013.

Because the middle school grades have long been ignored by our policymakers in Austin, I’m proposing a package of middle school reforms that will get students ready for high school and the future.

Because math and science will help make our children into the kind of problem solvers we need for the 21^st century, I’m proposing strengthening math and science education in elementary, middle and high schools.

Because our economy needs students with valued skills and certifications in fields like nursing and electronics, I’m proposing a vocational and technical high school graduation track that includes stakeholder partnerships between schools, unions, and businesses to give students access to apprenticeships and real world experience. Because the child sitting in a desk on the back row of any classroom in any school district in Texas could be the next Bill Gates or Steve Jobs, I’m proposing expanding curriculum offerings to include coursework in entrepreneurship.

Teachers are among society’s most important professionals, and among our state’s least valued assets. That’s why I’m proposing an across the board $5,000 teacher pay raise and busting the cap on the State Minimum Salary Schedule out to 30 years to attract and retain more qualified teachers.

We’re also going to end the “test and punish” culture in student assessment and school accountability.

Curriculum isn’t the only thing we need to reform. Our schools are crying out for better facilities. Since we’ll need 21^st century schoolhouses to accommodate all of these 21^st century reforms, I’m proposing a state building fund to help schools meet their physical plant requirements for the next decade and beyond.

It is also high time we took politics out of curriculum development and textbook adoption. Copernicus settled the fact that the Earth revolved around the sun back in the 1500s. In the 21^st century, we don’t need a bunch of ignorant, though well intentioned, people trying to tell our kids that it works the other way around.

Over the next couple of months, you’re going to hear a lot more from me- on education and other issues. I wanted to focus on education today because it is the single-largest issue facing our state at this time. The future of our economy depends on creating  school systems that prepare our children to succeed by giving them the knowledge and skills to prosper. It’s the only guaranteed way of bringing long term prosperity back to this state.

Download a Microsoft Word copy of these remarks here.

BEGIN REMARKS AS PREPARED FOR DELIVERY

Good morning. It is a pleasure to be here this morning to launch my gubernatorial campaign in the home of our nation’s largest inland port. Laredo is a key to Texas’ economy, and I look forward, in the coming weeks and months, to coming back to Laredo again.

All important reforms come at a cost and what I’m proposing today is no exception. However, we can no longer act as though the critical changes we need to make are out of reach. We have wasted decades getting mired down on cost and never really looked at the merits of the plan… or what it would do to build the economy long term. This fixation on cost to the exclusion of benefit is the reason I will hold my school finance package until November 24. Until then, every couple of weeks, we’ll be adding more pieces to this plan in roll outs across the state. Make no mistake, finance reform is just as important, especially to beleaguered property owners like myself.

As a former teacher and father of two boys who attend public school, education is very important to me. That’s why I’m making a pledge to you today that I will send the Texas Legislature a comprehensive education reform package in not just my first term but in my first week in office, and I’ll ask the legislature to pass it. We haven’t had comprehensive education reform in Texas since House Bill 72 passed in a special session in 1984. That’s at least a decade too long. Texans can’t wait any longer for real, comprehensive reform.

I want to share some alarming statistics to give you an idea of why there is such urgency surrounding comprehensive K-12 reform:

• Texas ranks third in the nation in terms of money spent on public education, but 45^th in the nation in terms of dollars spent per student.
• Texas ranks 34^th in the nation when it comes to average teacher salaries.
• Texas ranks dead last in terms of the percent of our population over age 25 with a high school diploma.
• Our high school graduation rate is the 41^st worst in the nation.

Those statistics sicken me but they appear to have no effect on Governor Perry or Senator Hutchison. They’ve spent a combined four decades in office either dodging the issue of education reform or trying to hold a broken system together with paste and modeling clay.

Today, I’m proposing a sweeping dropout reform package that includes free, online tutoring available to all Texas public school students, catch up programs for credit delinquent students, and more.

Lawmakers often have the misconception that one good reform—like dropout reform—will have a magical effect on the entire system. It doesn’t. That’s why my reform package is multi-faceted, and all encompassing:

Because the foundation of good students is a quality education in the early years of childhood, I’m proposing universal pre-kindergarten statewide by 2013.

Because the middle school grades have long been ignored by our policymakers in Austin, I’m proposing a package of middle school reforms that will get students ready for high school and the future.

Because math and science will help make our children into the kind of problem solvers we need for the 21^st century, I’m proposing strengthening math and science education in elementary, middle and high schools.

Because our economy needs students with valued skills and certifications in fields like nursing and electronics, I’m proposing a vocational and technical high school graduation track that includes stakeholder partnerships between schools, unions, and businesses to give students access to apprenticeships and real world experience. Because the child sitting in a desk on the back row of any classroom in any school district in Texas could be the next Bill Gates or Steve Jobs, I’m proposing expanding curriculum offerings to include coursework in entrepreneurship.

Teachers are among society’s most important professionals, and among our state’s least valued assets. That’s why I’m proposing an across the board $5,000 teacher pay raise and busting the cap on the State Minimum Salary Schedule out to 30 years to attract and retain more qualified teachers.

We’re also going to end the “test and punish” culture in student assessment and school accountability.

Curriculum isn’t the only thing we need to reform. Our schools are crying out for better facilities. Since we’ll need 21^st century schoolhouses to accommodate all of these 21^st century reforms, I’m proposing a state building fund to help schools meet their physical plant requirements for the next decade and beyond.

It is also high time we took politics out of curriculum development and textbook adoption. Copernicus settled the fact that the Earth revolved around the sun back in the 1500s. In the 21^st century, we don’t need a bunch of ignorant, though well intentioned, people trying to tell our kids that it works the other way around.

Over the next couple of months, you’re going to hear a lot more from me- on education and other issues. I wanted to focus on education today because it is the single-largest issue facing our state at this time. The future of our economy depends on creating  school systems that prepare our children to succeed by giving them the knowledge and skills to prosper. It’s the only guaranteed way of bringing long term prosperity back to this state.

Download a Microsoft Word copy of these remarks here.

PLEASE NOTE: Mr. Gilbert frequently deviates from the prepared text. However, the media is permitted to quote from these remarks as prepared as well as Mr. Gilbert’s actual remarks.

BEGIN REMARKS AS PREPARED FOR DELIVERY

Good Evening. It always gives me great joy to visit El Paso. Whether you fly in to El Paso like we did or drive from East Texas, when you get near this area, the beautiful mountain ranges are always breathtaking. As we flew in this afternoon, looking out the windows of the plane at that scenery you can’t find anywhere else in our state, I reminded me that the natural beauty of Texas—and especially El Paso—is one of the reasons I’m so proud to be a Texan, and so excited about launching this campaign. Visiting all the parts of our state is a special experience you just can’t put in to words.

All important reforms come at a cost and what I’m proposing today is no exception. However, we can no longer act as though the critical changes we need to make are out of reach. We have wasted decades getting mired down on cost and never really looked at the merits of the plan… or what it would do to build the economy long term. This fixation on cost to the exclusion of benefit is the reason I will hold my school finance package until November 24. Until then, every couple of weeks, we’ll be adding more pieces to this plan in roll outs across the state. Make no mistake, finance reform is just as important, especially to beleaguered property owners like myself.

As a former teacher and father of two boys who attend public school, education is very important to me. That’s why I’m making a pledge to you today that I will send the Texas Legislature a comprehensive education reform package in not just my first term but in my first week in office, and I’ll ask the legislature to pass it. We haven’t had comprehensive education reform in Texas since House Bill 72 passed in a special session in 1984. That’s at least a decade too long. Texans can’t wait any longer for real, comprehensive reform.

I want to share some alarming statistics to give you an idea of why there is such urgency surrounding comprehensive K-12 reform:

• Texas ranks third in the nation in terms of money spent on public education, but 45^th in the nation in terms of dollars spent per student.
• Texas ranks 34^th in the nation when it comes to average teacher salaries.
• Texas ranks dead last in terms of the percent of our population over age 25 with a high school diploma.
• Our high school graduation rate is the 41^st worst in the nation.

Those statistics sicken me but they appear to have no effect on Governor Perry or Senator Hutchison. They’ve spent a combined four decades in office either dodging the issue of education reform or trying to hold a broken system together with paste and modeling clay.

Today, I’m proposing a sweeping dropout reform package that includes free, online tutoring available to all Texas public school students, catch up programs for credit delinquent students, and more.

Lawmakers often have the misconception that one good reform—like dropout reform—will have a magical effect on the entire system. It doesn’t. That’s why my reform package is multi-faceted, and all encompassing:

Because the foundation of good students is a quality education in the early years of childhood, I’m proposing universal pre-kindergarten statewide by 2013.

Because the middle school grades have long been ignored by our policymakers in Austin, I’m proposing a package of middle school reforms that will get students ready for high school and the future.

Because math and science will help make our children into the kind of problem solvers we need for the 21^st century, I’m proposing strengthening math and science education in elementary, middle and high schools.

Because our economy needs students with valued skills and certifications in fields like nursing and electronics, I’m proposing a vocational and technical high school graduation track that includes stakeholder partnerships between schools, unions, and businesses to give students access to apprenticeships and real world experience. Because the child sitting in a desk on the back row of any classroom in any school district in Texas could be the next Bill Gates or Steve Jobs, I’m proposing expanding curriculum offerings to include coursework in entrepreneurship.

Teachers are among society’s most important professionals, and among our state’s least valued assets. That’s why I’m proposing an across the board $5,000 teacher pay raise and busting the cap on the State Minimum Salary Schedule out to 30 years to attract and retain more qualified teachers.

We’re also going to end the “test and punish” culture in student assessment and school accountability.

Curriculum isn’t the only thing we need to reform. Our schools are crying out for better facilities. Since we’ll need 21^st century schoolhouses to accommodate all of these 21^st century reforms, I’m proposing a state building fund to help schools meet their physical plant requirements for the next decade and beyond.

It is also high time we took politics out of curriculum development and textbook adoption. Copernicus settled the fact that the Earth revolved around the sun back in the 1500s. In the 21^st century, we don’t need a bunch of ignorant, though well intentioned, people trying to tell our kids that it works the other way around.

Over the next couple of months, you’re going to hear a lot more from me- on education and other issues. I wanted to focus on education today because it is the single-largest issue facing our state at this time. The future of our economy depends on creating  school systems that prepare our children to succeed by giving them the knowledge and skills to prosper. It’s the only guaranteed way of bringing long term prosperity back to this state.

Download a Microsoft Word copy of these remarks here.

BEGIN REMARKS AS PREPARED FOR DELIVERY

Good afternoon. It is a pleasure to be here in Lubbock this afternoon on the former site of Reese Air Force Base, which enterprising Texans have helped turn into this industrial space.

All important reforms come at a cost and what I’m proposing today is no exception. However, we can no longer act as though the critical changes we need to make are out of reach. We have wasted decades getting mired down on cost and never really looked at the merits of the plan… or what it would do to build the economy long term. This fixation on cost to the exclusion of benefit is the reason I will hold my school finance package until November 24. Until then, every couple of weeks, we’ll be adding more pieces to this plan in roll outs across the state. Make no mistake, finance reform is just as important, especially to beleaguered property owners like myself.

As a former teacher and father of two boys who attend public school, education is very important to me. That’s why I’m making a pledge to you today that I will send the Texas Legislature a comprehensive education reform package in not just my first term but in my first week in office, and I’ll ask the legislature to pass it. We haven’t had comprehensive education reform in Texas since House Bill 72 passed in a special session in 1984. That’s at least a decade too long. Texans can’t wait any longer for real, comprehensive reform.

I want to share some alarming statistics to give you an idea of why there is such urgency surrounding comprehensive K-12 reform:

• Texas ranks third in the nation in terms of money spent on public education, but 45^th in the nation in terms of dollars spent per student.
• Texas ranks 34^th in the nation when it comes to average teacher salaries.
• Texas ranks dead last in terms of the percent of our population over age 25 with a high school diploma.
• Our high school graduation rate is the 41^st worst in the nation.

Those statistics sicken me but they appear to have no effect on Governor Perry or Senator Hutchison. They’ve spent a combined four decades in office either dodging the issue of education reform or trying to hold a broken system together with paste and modeling clay.

Today, I’m proposing a sweeping dropout reform package that includes free, online tutoring available to all Texas public school students, catch up programs for credit delinquent students, and more.

Lawmakers often have the misconception that one good reform—like dropout reform—will have a magical effect on the entire system. It doesn’t. That’s why my reform package is multi-faceted, and all encompassing:

Because the foundation of good students is a quality education in the early years of childhood, I’m proposing universal pre-kindergarten statewide by 2013.

Because the middle school grades have long been ignored by our policymakers in Austin, I’m proposing a package of middle school reforms that will get students ready for high school and the future.

Because math and science will help make our children into the kind of problem solvers we need for the 21^st century, I’m proposing strengthening math and science education in elementary, middle and high schools.

Because our economy needs students with valued skills and certifications in fields like nursing and electronics, I’m proposing a vocational and technical high school graduation track that includes stakeholder partnerships between schools, unions, and businesses to give students access to apprenticeships and real world experience. Because the child sitting in a desk on the back row of any classroom in any school district in Texas could be the next Bill Gates or Steve Jobs, I’m proposing expanding curriculum offerings to include coursework in entrepreneurship.

Teachers are among society’s most important professionals, and among our state’s least valued assets. That’s why I’m proposing an across the board $5,000 teacher pay raise and busting the cap on the State Minimum Salary Schedule out to 30 years to attract and retain more qualified teachers.

We’re also going to end the “test and punish” culture in student assessment and school accountability.

Curriculum isn’t the only thing we need to reform. Our schools are crying out for better facilities. Since we’ll need 21^st century schoolhouses to accommodate all of these 21^st century reforms, I’m proposing a state building fund to help schools meet their physical plant requirements for the next decade and beyond.

It is also high time we took politics out of curriculum development and textbook adoption. Copernicus settled the fact that the Earth revolved around the sun back in the 1500s. In the 21^st century, we don’t need a bunch of ignorant, though well intentioned, people trying to tell our kids that it works the other way around.

Over the next couple of months, you’re going to hear a lot more from me- on education and other issues. I wanted to focus on education today because it is the single-largest issue facing our state at this time. The future of our economy depends on creating  school systems that prepare our children to succeed by giving them the knowledge and skills to prosper. It’s the only guaranteed way of bringing long term prosperity back to this state.

Download a Microsoft Word copy of these remarks here.

BEGIN REMARKS AS PREPARED FOR DELIVERY

Good morning. It is a pleasure to be here in Amarillo this morning. I’m proud today to be unveiling my public school education plan on the campus of one of our state’s many fine community colleges. Making Texas students college ready, and ensuring that every student can attain a college education is a priority of mine, so it is especially appropriate that we’re here today.

All important reforms come at a cost and what I’m proposing today is no exception. However, we can no longer act as though the critical changes we need to make are out of reach. We have wasted decades getting mired down on cost and never really looked at the merits of the plan… or what it would do to build the economy long term. This fixation on cost to the exclusion of benefit is the reason I will hold my school finance package until November 24. Until then, every couple of weeks, we’ll be adding more pieces to this plan in roll outs across the state. Make no mistake, finance reform is just as important, especially to beleaguered property owners like myself.

As a former teacher and father of two boys who attend public school, education is very important to me. That’s why I’m making a pledge to you today that I will send the Texas Legislature a comprehensive education reform package in not just my first term but in my first week in office, and I’ll ask the legislature to pass it. We haven’t had comprehensive education reform in Texas since House Bill 72 passed in a special session in 1984. That’s at least a decade too long. Texans can’t wait any longer for real, comprehensive reform.

I want to share some alarming statistics to give you an idea of why there is such urgency surrounding comprehensive K-12 reform:

• Texas ranks third in the nation in terms of money spent on public education, but 45^th in the nation in terms of dollars spent per student.
• Texas ranks 34^th in the nation when it comes to average teacher salaries.
• Texas ranks dead last in terms of the percent of our population over age 25 with a high school diploma.
• Our high school graduation rate is the 41^st worst in the nation.

Those statistics sicken me but they appear to have no effect on Governor Perry or Senator Hutchison. They’ve spent a combined four decades in office either dodging the issue of education reform or trying to hold a broken system together with paste and modeling clay.

Today, I’m proposing a sweeping dropout reform package that includes free, online tutoring available to all Texas public school students, catch up programs for credit delinquent students, and more.

Lawmakers often have the misconception that one good reform—like dropout reform—will have a magical effect on the entire system. It doesn’t. That’s why my reform package is multi-faceted, and all encompassing:

Because the foundation of good students is a quality education in the early years of childhood, I’m proposing universal pre-kindergarten statewide by 2013.

Because the middle school grades have long been ignored by our policymakers in Austin, I’m proposing a package of middle school reforms that will get students ready for high school and the future.

Because math and science will help make our children into the kind of problem solvers we need for the 21^st century, I’m proposing strengthening math and science education in elementary, middle and high schools.

Because our economy needs students with valued skills and certifications in fields like nursing and electronics, I’m proposing a vocational and technical high school graduation track that includes stakeholder partnerships between schools, unions, and businesses to give students access to apprenticeships and real world experience. Because the child sitting in a desk on the back row of any classroom in any school district in Texas could be the next Bill Gates or Steve Jobs, I’m proposing expanding curriculum offerings to include coursework in entrepreneurship.

Teachers are among society’s most important professionals, and among our state’s least valued assets. That’s why I’m proposing an across the board $5,000 teacher pay raise and busting the cap on the State Minimum Salary Schedule out to 30 years to attract and retain more qualified teachers.

We’re also going to end the “test and punish” culture in student assessment and school accountability.

Curriculum isn’t the only thing we need to reform. Our schools are crying out for better facilities. Since we’ll need 21^st century schoolhouses to accommodate all of these 21^st century reforms, I’m proposing a state building fund to help schools meet their physical plant requirements for the next decade and beyond.

It is also high time we took politics out of curriculum development and textbook adoption. Copernicus settled the fact that the Earth revolved around the sun back in the 1500s. In the 21^st century, we don’t need a bunch of ignorant, though well intentioned, people trying to tell our kids that it works the other way around.

Over the next couple of months, you’re going to hear a lot more from me- on education and other issues. I wanted to focus on education today because it is the single-largest issue facing our state at this time. The future of our economy depends on creating  school systems that prepare our children to succeed by giving them the knowledge and skills to prosper. It’s the only guaranteed way of bringing long term prosperity back to this state.

Download a Microsoft Word copy of these remarks here.

BEGIN REMARKS AS PREPARED FOR DELIVERY

Good morning. It is a pleasure to be here in Dallas this morning and at the Communication Workers of America hall. CWA has a long and rich history of fighting for the rights of working men and women in Texas, and I’m proud to make this the first stop on my announcement tour.

All important reforms come at a cost and what I’m proposing today is no exception. However, we can no longer act as though the critical changes we need to make are out of reach. We have wasted decades getting mired down on cost and never really looked at the merits of the plan… or what it would do to build the economy long term. This fixation on cost to the exclusion of benefit is the reason I will hold my school finance package until November 24. Until then, every couple of weeks, we’ll be adding more pieces to this plan in roll outs across the state. Make no mistake, finance reform is just as important, especially to beleaguered property owners like myself.

As a former teacher and father of two boys who attend public school, education is very important to me. That’s why I’m making a pledge to you today that I will send the Texas Legislature a comprehensive education reform package in not just my first term but in my first week in office, and I’ll ask the legislature to pass it. We haven’t had comprehensive education reform in Texas since House Bill 72 passed in a special session in 1984. That’s at least a decade too long. Texans can’t wait any longer for real, comprehensive reform.

I want to share some alarming statistics to give you an idea of why there is such urgency surrounding comprehensive K-12 reform:

• Texas ranks third in the nation in terms of money spent on public education, but 45^th in the nation in terms of dollars spent per student.
• Texas ranks 34^th in the nation when it comes to average teacher salaries.
• Texas ranks dead last in terms of the percent of our population over age 25 with a high school diploma.
• Our high school graduation rate is the 41^st worst in the nation.

Those statistics sicken me but they appear to have no effect on Governor Perry or Senator Hutchison. They’ve spent a combined four decades in office either dodging the issue of education reform or trying to hold a broken system together with paste and modeling clay.

Today, I’m proposing a sweeping dropout reform package that includes free, online tutoring available to all Texas public school students, catch up programs for credit delinquent students, and more.

Lawmakers often have the misconception that one good reform—like dropout reform—will have a magical effect on the entire system. It doesn’t. That’s why my reform package is multi-faceted, and all encompassing:

Because the foundation of good students is a quality education in the early years of childhood, I’m proposing universal pre-kindergarten statewide by 2013.

Because the middle school grades have long been ignored by our policymakers in Austin, I’m proposing a package of middle school reforms that will get students ready for high school and the future.

Because math and science will help make our children into the kind of problem solvers we need for the 21^st century, I’m proposing strengthening math and science education in elementary, middle and high schools.

Because our economy needs students with valued skills and certifications in fields like nursing and electronics, I’m proposing a vocational and technical high school graduation track that includes stakeholder partnerships between schools, unions, and businesses to give students access to apprenticeships and real world experience. Because the child sitting in a desk on the back row of any classroom in any school district in Texas could be the next Bill Gates or Steve Jobs, I’m proposing expanding curriculum offerings to include coursework in entrepreneurship.

Teachers are among society’s most important professionals, and among our state’s least valued assets. That’s why I’m proposing an across the board $5,000 teacher pay raise and busting the cap on the State Minimum Salary Schedule out to 30 years to attract and retain more qualified teachers.

We’re also going to end the “test and punish” culture in student assessment and school accountability.

Curriculum isn’t the only thing we need to reform. Our schools are crying out for better facilities. Since we’ll need 21^st century schoolhouses to accommodate all of these 21^st century reforms, I’m proposing a state building fund to help schools meet their physical plant requirements for the next decade and beyond.

It is also high time we took politics out of curriculum development and textbook adoption. Copernicus settled the fact that the Earth revolved around the sun back in the 1500s. In the 21^st century, we don’t need a bunch of ignorant, though well intentioned, people trying to tell our kids that it works the other way around.

Over the next couple of months, you’re going to hear a lot more from me- on education and other issues. I wanted to focus on education today because it is the single-largest issue facing our state at this time. The future of our economy depends on creating  school systems that prepare our children to succeed by giving them the knowledge and skills to prosper. It’s the only guaranteed way of bringing long term prosperity back to this state.

Download a Microsoft Word copy of these remarks here.