2022: Gubernatorial candidates' own words on education
As voters are preparing for the election, The Gettysburg Area Democracy for America Education Task Force is providing a succinct look at the education policies of the candidates for Pennsylvania governor. The following school support policies are taken from the websites of each candidate. Both are verbatim from their web pages.
State Senator Mastriano
PARENTAL RIGHTS and SCHOOL CURRICULUM
Doug Mastriano believes parents have a fundamental right to know and control what their children are learning in school. For that reason, Mastriano will strengthen and enforce statewide curriculum transparency requirements, and work with the legislature to establish a universal "Parental Rights" statute in the law.
Mastriano believes schools should teach children how to think, not what to think. On day one, Mastriano will place an immediate ban on Critical Race and Gender Theory Studies in Pennsylvania schools.
SCHOOL SAFETY and WOMEN'S SPORTS
On day one, Mastriano will place an immediate ban on biological males in girls' locker rooms and restrooms. On the same day, Mastriano will ban biological males from competing in girls' sports.
SCHOOL CHOICE
Doug Mastriano believes every Pennsylvania child is entitled to a top-notch education and that, when schools compete, it promotes excellence. While he'll make sure public schools are well-funded, he'll also fight like hell to provide them the competition that will make them great. Mastriano will work with the legislature to finally bring school choice to Pennsylvania families, so that no child is trapped in a failing school ever again. https://www.doug4gov.com/the_plan
Attorney General Shapiro
Every child in Pennsylvania — regardless of race, class, or zip code — deserves access to a quality education and the opportunity to shape their own future. A strong education system is foundational to a functioning democracy — and it’s critical to moving Pennsylvania forward. Now with the limitations of the COVID-19 pandemic largely behind us, it’s time to get back to basics by investing in our schools and building opportunity for Pennsylvania’s children.
As Governor, Josh will ensure every student has access to the “thorough and efficient” education Pennsylvania’s constitution promises.
He’s going to fully fund our schools — invest in attracting and retaining quality teachers, repairing old and dangerously unhealthy buildings, and keeping pace with changing technology so our students are prepared for the future. Josh will make our children’s mental health a priority and ensure that every school building in the Commonwealth has at least one mental health counselor, and limit our reliance on standardized testing so we can create more time for kids to learn and more flexibility for teachers to teach. Josh will empower students with the skills necessary to succeed in whatever path they choose, ensuring every high school student has access to vocational, technical, and computer training.
Josh believes parents deserve to be empowered to ensure their kids receive a good and quality education and have choices available to put their children in the best position to succeed. That requires boosting funding for education, adding opportunities, and innovating to ensure children in our most challenged schools receive the education and care they deserve. And, Josh will make sure parents have a seat at the table when decisions about education are made by appointing at least two parents to the State Board of Education. We can keep Pennsylvania’s promise to our students by fully funding and fixing up our schools,
prioritizing mental health, empowering students with vocational, technical, and computer training, and ensuring parents have a real voice in their children’s education. As Governor, Josh will tackle these challenges head on and ensure we build opportunity for Pennsylvania’s children.
https://joshshapiro.org/policy-education/
R. B. Lasco, Gettysburg Area Democracy for America Education Task Force.
This series is written to promote political discussion and organizing. Permission is given to use this in fact sheets, talking points, letters to the editor, etc. We’d appreciate if you notified Gettysburg DFA (leonsreed@gmail.com) of any uses.