Strickland Details Education Plan, Rebuts Critics

COLUMBUS, Ohio—In a 25-minute speech at the Hyatt Regency Friday, Governor Ted Strickland detailed an education-reform plan, which will use $1.7 billion of federal stimulus money.

Strickland affirms that sustainability and commitment are needed in order to bring more success to Ohio schools.

Referring to current economic times and the lack of drive for education from previous administrations, Strickland says his plan would build a foundation for success in Ohio.

“Over the last ten years, the economy has been a little better than it has today, but the commitment was not there for education,“ Strickland says.

Strickland’s plan would create an “evidence-based” system that would require schools to use the latest research to set everything from class sizes to teacher training.

The plan also would direct more money to poorer districts and less to wealthier ones and would stress inter-disciplinary skills and problem-solving.

The plan, known as Substitute House Bill 1, already has been approved in the House.

Now, a Republican-controlled Senate is pouring over the bill.

Republicans opposed to the bill worry the federal stimulus money will run out.

In response to opposition, Strickland had this to say, “The federal stimulus money is one time money, because it’s one-time money. We can either use it to benefit Ohio, or we can refuse to accept it. And, I don’t hear any of my detractors—maybe one—indicating that they’d refuse the federal money.“

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