What's At Stake on Nov. 8 - Education

November 1, 2011

Virginia's election is one week from today: Tuesday, November 8th. Republicans across the Commonwealth and country are bankrolling campaigns in hopes of taking over the State Senate: the last impediment to their radical conservative agenda. Our children and Virginia's education system will be one of the most hurt by the planned conservative agenda and continued education budget cuts.

Progressive Point: Voting next Tuesday is extremely important because the fates of Virginia's teachers, children, and families are at stake. Strong schools are essential for investing in the future of our children, but also in strengthening the future of Virginia's economy with an educated workforce. There is no higher calling than a teacher who is committed to providing our children with a high-quality education--and for that commitment they deserve to be paid a fair wage without carrying the burden of Bob McDonnell's continued budget failures. Virginia's children can't vote on November 8th, but you can. Our children cannot afford a conservative takeover of the State Senate that will devastate our education system.

Get the Facts:

"The median person with a college degree is in a family making $75,000.  The media person with a high-school degree is in a family making $42,000 and the average high school dropout is in a family making $28,000." - David Brooks, The Social Animal (Random House 2011)

"[I]n 2001-02 in-state undergraduates and their families bore 23 percent of the cost of their education. In 2011-12, the student share is 49 percent... [S]tate funding per full-time college student in Virginia dropped about 9 percent between 2005 and 2010. In North Carolina, it increased 11 percent over the same period, and in Maryland it was up about 6 percent.  According to U.S. Labor Department figures, the current unemployment rate is about 9.1 percent. Among Americans with a bachelor's degree, the jobless rate drops to 4.2 percent." (Fredericksburg.com)

"Western Virginia's school districts are grappling with the possible loss of scores of positions because of the end of federal stimulus funding. 'School districts are basically people,' said Floyd County school Superintendent Kevin Harris, who is looking at losing $600,000, the equivalent of 12 teaching positions.  'We do know with considerably less money in the budget next year, it will affect personnel. It will affect teaching.'" (The Roanoke Times)

Tweet it: Virginia's children can't vote on Nov. 8, but you can http://bit.ly/uodtcV via @ProgressVA

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