Issue Position: Education

Richie is proud of the fact that we have great schools and teachers throughout the district. He believes we must continue to work on making positive changes and improvements. We all know that potential employers are looking for a well-educated, motivated workforce and the genesis for this is a solid educational foundation that involved parents, well qualified teachers and enlightened administrators provide. Richie believes that regardless of income, race or place of residence, all children deserve to have the best education possible.
He also believes that parents have the primary responsibility for making decisions concerning their children's education and that they should be able to choose not to send them to an under-performing school. Richie believes that when a comprehensive school choice plan is implemented, it will result in better opportunities for all students. Richie will also encourage the expansion of public charter schools.

There seems to be a monetary disconnect in our public education system that ranks high in per pupil cost and low in student outcomes. Richie will introduce/support legislation to move towards market-based solutions, including allowing students to receive scholarships or tax credits if they transfer to a public, private or parochial school. Richie also believes that the state portion of the average per student spending should follow the student. This per-pupil, "backpacked" funding, is undoubtedly a path to success. We also need to consolidate the mish-mash of education funding streams so that the state portion makes it to our classrooms rather than becoming tied up in bureaucratic programs. Presently, less than fifty cent of every dollar spent on education in South Carolina actually makes it to the classroom. Reducing regulations and administrative costs will also free up funds and get them where they are needed most -- in the classroom. It is time to address these failures with real reforms instead of just throwing more money at the problem.

Richie believes teachers deserve the freedom to teach in a disciplined classroom. Good tort reform will allow teachers & principals to enforce discipline in our schools. Richie also believes our teachers need protection from ridiculous federal mandates and anti-Christian attacks from groups like the ACLU. Richie knows there is something terribly wrong when teachers in District 53 cannot bow their heads in their cafeteria without fear of losing their jobs and or being sued.

Richie will work to put the responsibility for educating our children back in the hands of parents by bringing important educational decision-making authority back to the local school systems.

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