Governor Kaine

Governor Kaine

announces public ■:

education budget ;

amendments

I ;

RICHMOND- Governor ! Timothy M. Kaine announced on Tuesday several education- r related budget amendments he ! will submit for consideration by the 2007 General Assembly. The !, Governor’s amendments will ’ continue to fund the Standards > of Quality, update Virginia lot- ! tery proceeds and sales tax revenues, and fully fund the state’s share of a three-percent salary increase for teachers and other public school employees. Governor Kaine is scheduled to submit his budget amendments * and address the General Assembly’s money committees on Friday, December 15.

“In today’s knowledge-based economy, we are working to make sure that our young people have every opportunity to succeed across the educational continuum, and we also are in a position to move teacher salaries closer to the national average,” Governor Kaine said. “Our budget amendments will enhance remedial reading and math programs for elementary school students. We also will establish several pre-kindergarten pilot programs as we continue to work together to strengthen both quality and access to Virginia’s public and private pre-K network."

“We also recognize that the need for additional education or training.beyond high school has become universal,” Governor Kaine said. “Our amendments will continue the focus on moving from academic competence to excellence, preparing students for their continued education at a community college, four-year college or technical training program.”

“A generation ago, a college education was not a requirement for a comfortable, middleclass life,” said Virginia Secretary of Education Tbm Morris. "Ibday, a college degree is no guarantee of financial security, but individuals with- . <mt some postsecondary education have little chance of finding satisfying work that pays well.” ,

Secretary Morris is working with the Governor’s P-16 Education Council to align educational programs, from preschool through college, to ensure that : each stage of the system pre- ^ pares students well for the next - stage. '

Governor Kaine’s budget amendments to support public * education include the following.

Public school employees are the backbone of this continuum, and Governor Kaine’s budget amendments will include nearly $64 million to fund the state’s share of a three percent salary increase for teachers, including instructional and support staff, effective December 1, 2007. Earlier this year, Governor Kaine secured teacher salary increases and a requirement

See KAINE, Page A10

r

1