Education

Four years ago, Nevada passed what was at the time the largest tax increase in Nevada history: one billion dollars.  None of that money has found its way to the classroom, our kids, or their teachers.  Since 2012, the Nevada K-12 education funding has increased from $3.8 billion dollars per year ($5.3 billion adjusted for inflation) to $7.2 billion today…  an increase of 35%. The total population of Nevada’s students has increased an estimated 12%. During the same period, Nevada’s teachers have seen a 4% raise, total. 

Forget the statistics and numbers above for one second. What I am trying to say is that we are paying a ton more because we were told we needed to support our teachers, and the money is going everywhere except the teachers and the classroom. The shell game we are playing with the education system is simply wrong.

Our kids deserve better than to be trotted out every two years as fundraising props, only to have none of the money land back in the hands where it can do the most good: teachers, the classroom, and our students.  Our kids deserve better. For our children to compete in today’s global marketplace, they need a world class education.  One that focuses on the skills necessary for our future, while preserving the best of our past.  We can and we must aspire to do better.  We owe it to the kids.  We owe it to the coming generations.