Nov. 16, 2004

Gov. Perry Charts Course for Education Reform

Says Republicans and Democrats Must Work Together to Solve School Finance Issue

DALLAS – Gov. Rick Perry today made the case for education reform as the critical element of the upcoming school finance debate in a speech to the Greater Dallas Chamber of Commerce.

“We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to provide meaningful reform to public education,” Perry said. “School finance is not simply about cutting property taxes or eliminating Robin Hood. It is not merely an exercise in tax accounting or changes to the Byzantine school funding formulas. It is first, and foremost, about providing a great education for every child.”

“The future of our state is dependent upon the education of our children,” Perry said, adding that efforts must focus on “providing a better future for our children, regardless of where they come from, the sound of their last name, or the heritage of their family.”

Perry emphasized that he is not talking about incremental changes in schools, but rather “transforming education so our schools work as well for the poorest kids as they do for those from privilege.” He called for providing new education incentives and “setting new standards of excellence, where schools are measured by the progress they make with struggling students, where students are encouraged to take the hardest classes, where the basics are the foundation, and that foundation prepares every willing mind to succeed in college and the world beyond.”

Perry said that he is working with all willing parties, including Texas business leaders, to design a school finance system with viable revenue alternatives that can offset significant property tax reductions and sustain classroom needs. He said members of the Governor’s Business Council are drafting education reform proposals that focus on higher achievement at schools with large numbers of economically disadvantaged students.

“I will keep an open door to new ideas, including new business revenues, with the goal of finding funding alternatives that are fair to employers without doing harm to job creation,” Perry said, restating his support for closing tax loopholes and his desire to work with employers to ensure the tax structure is fair and sustainable.

Perry stressed the importance of Republicans and Democrats working together to confront the challenges of education reform.

“Texans want discourse, not discord,” Perry said. “They want a future with good jobs, great schools and strong families. And I truly believe there is no problem we can’t solve when Democrats and Republicans decide to work together.”