Election Day: November 8, 2022
The Paul LePage Student Success Plan
ADDRESSING MILLS’ COVID SCHOOL SHUTDOWNS
Janet Mills’ Administration followed the lead of other liberal states and ignored scientific data, relied on political theater, and aggressively shut down Maine’s in-school instruction to the detriment of Maine children. She played politics with Maine kids and these misguided policies created a catastrophic ripple effect affecting an entire generation of children, their financial future, and the overall impact to Maine’s economy.
Recent study results suggest that more first and second graders ended this year two or more grade levels below expectations than in any previous year. This educational crisis lands squarely on the shoulders of the Mills’ Administration and their political cronies in the teachers’ union. It is imperative that the next Governor address these disparities and do whatever it takes to improve the future opportunities for this generation of children.
ADDRESSING MAINE’S CHILDCARE AND LEARNING SHORTFALL CHALLENGES
- As if it wasn’t enough to shut children out of their classrooms, Janet Mills used her executive authority to push for onerous daycare regulations that virtually decimated an industry.
Too many Maine parents are left without affordable childcare options. - I propose prioritizing education dollars to provide for after-care programs, in our schools, until 5:00 PM. This will include bringing our daycare workers back into the workforce to provide care, urging stay-at-home parents and grandparents to get involved after school, and providing teachers with incentives to teach.
- We must provide catch-up opportunities for our students. We need to provide teachers stipends to incentivize them to participate in formal tutoring programs, after-school, to aid children who fell behind during the pandemic.
ADDRESSING MAINE’S WORKFORCE CHALLENGES
- Because not every student will attend a 4-year university, we must best prepare students for good paying careers.
- Introducing vocational and technical education to students in high school is TOO LATE.
- We must introduce vocational and technical education to children in middle school.
- We need to identify students who have the ability to work with their hands earlier, and provide them with good-paying career opportunities they can pursue into high school.
Empowering Maine Parents
Paul LePage recognizes the importance of a quality education – he often says it saved his life. This is why he is committed to empowering parents to make the decisions best suited for their children.
During the pandemic, thousands of parents across Maine were forced to step in and essentially home school their children. This revealed the absolute need for more opportunities for learning for all Maine children. Parents deserve the right to decide the best education for our students – not educational bureaucrats.
Parents Bill of Rights
1) BACK TO BASIC EDUCATIONAL CURRICULUM
- Spending is increasing, and test scores are declining.
- The Mills’ Administration has prioritized bloated educational bureaucrats at the expense of our teachers and students.
- It is time that our schools focus on getting back to the basics – math, science, civics and reading.
2) TRANSPARENCY IN CURRICULUM
- Maine parents should know what their children are being taught in our schools.
- Parents should not have to make FOAA requests to find out what is being taught in school.
- School curriculum should be posted online, publicly, and easily accessible for parents to review.
3) REAL PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AT THE LOCAL LEVEL
- School boards should be live-streaming, recording, and posting all public proceedings online.
- Parents should be notified of ALL sensitive materials – with a parental opt-out option.
- Our curriculum needs to focus on teaching our children HOW to think, not WHAT to think.
4) REFORMING THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
- Reform the State Board of Education to include parents with children in public schools
5) ESTABLISHING A PARENTS GOVERNING BOARD
- This board would be established and meet twice a year to provide feedback and recommendations to the Board of Education and the Governor’s Office.
6) TRUE SCHOOL CHOICE
- The money should follow the student. Parents should be able to decide whether a public school, private school, charter school, or parochial school best fits their students needs.
Download The Student Success Plan
PO Box 5308