Lt. Gov. Brad Little talks comprehensive strategy to tackle education
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IDAHO FALLS — It’s no secret Idaho ranks low in education achievement, and changing that is a major focus of Idaho’s gubernatorial race.
Gubernatorial candidate Lt. Gov. Brad Little spoke about his plan for Idaho’s education system Friday in an interview with EastIdahoNews.com. Little claims he is the only candidate who has produced a “comprehensive strategy” to tackle education.
“Education needs to continue to adapt to the skills that are needed when they get out of school — whether it’s after a graduate degree or out of high school — and (the education system needs to realize) that families and kids are different,” Little told EastIdahoNews.com.
He said is what his plan does. Little’s plan focuses on four areas: local control and local solutions, increasing opportunities beyond K-12, the best teachers and excellent students.
His plan would increase teachers starting pay to $40,000 even with the possible tax cuts being debated in the Idaho legislature.
“We’re blessed in Idaho that the economy’s growing,” Little said. “We’ve got great, robust growth — we can do both. We can offer tax relief and still increase starting teacher pay. Which is what we’re doing this year. This year we’re going to put $40 million into the career ladder.”
Little emphasized the importance of literacy in Idaho’s children by the time they reach third grade.
“We need to focus like a laser on getting these kids reading proficiently,” He explained. “Whether your student is 100 percent prepared that first day they walk into kindergarten or the first grade — or whether the student is somebody who’s come from a background where they don’t have that access. If those aren’t reading proficiently into the third grade it drags down everybody.”
He said making sure children have those literacy skills is the keys to his education program.
The 2018 gubernatorial election will be held on Nov. 6.
Watch EastIdahoNews.com’s entire interview with Brad Little above.