Bush's Record on Education Reform Policies

For further information, this Word document outlines the major differences between Bush and Gore's education proposals. 

The key points, with regards to the Grissmer RAND study, are:

BUSH

1) Per Pupil Expenditures did grow in Texas, due to the state's record budget surpluses.

2) Lower Pupil-Teacher Ratios in lower grades: Texas' class size rules were created by Ross Perot in 1984. Under Bush, the number of schools requesting and receiving class size waivers (allowing them to have more students per class than the requirement) has increased.

3) Higher percentages of teachers reporting adequate resources for teaching: Under Bush, Texas received a " D" in Teacher Quality according to a 2000 Education Week study. While Bush takes credit for the $3,000 teacher pay raise offered in 1999, Bush's initial plan would not have guaranteed a pay raise to any teachers, and he prioritized tax cuts above teacher pay raises. Texas teachers still remain below the national average for pay, and the state faces huge teacher shortages. See point 5 below.

4) Early Education: George W. Bush opposed mandatory kindergarten and failed to speak out when Texas Republicans tried to cut Head Start funding to fund Bush's tax cuts in 1999.

5) Lower teacher turnover: Bush's record has been horrible and things are getting worse. 

GORE

1) Higher Per Pupil Expenditures: While Gore would offer $115 billion in additional education spending over 10 years, Bush offers less than half of that amount.

2) Class Size: Al Gore has proposed continuing the commitment to hire 100,000 teachers, and would offer funding for school construction, which would decrease class size. Bush opposes the 100,000 new teachers program and believes the federal government should not be responsible for "bricks and mortar," his term for school construction.

3) Teachers: Al Gore has a plan to test every new teacher and recruit one million qualified new teachers. George W. Bush would obliterate the 100,000 new teacher program and would not test new teachers.

4) Pre-kindergarten and early education: Al Gore would offer universal pre-school for 4-year-olds and expand access for three-year-olds. George W. Bush has no plan to expand access to quality pre-school.

Education stats

How Bush has fought against better schools

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