We have a moral and constitutional obligation to move beyond political slogans and guarantee that our schools provide children with world class skills and knowledge. 

The high drop out and truancy rates combined with the low graduation rates of our students, along with the increasing number of disciplinary actions in our schools, are unacceptable.  The rates among Richmond’s African-American students are especially troubling.  We are clearly failing our children, students who look to us for leadership and stewardship. 

My first month in office, I will work together with educational leaders to convene a national summit on the state of urban education.

We will establish world class standards and competencies that will guide us in improving attendance and graduation rates.

I have heard from countless city residents that we need to place special attention on our middle schools.  Middle school years are the most vulnerable for our youth.  And, the middle school years are when parents decide to move out of the city or send their kids to private schools. The students left in the system are not receiving the tools they need to succeed.

As mayor, I will ask the school board and the new superintendent to work together with me to build and staff two middle schools by the end of my first term. I envision that these schools will be funded through public-private partnerships with businesses and higher education.

We will make our middle schools models of innovation and creativity in urban education. 

We also must seriously consider the establishment of alternative schools and programs, such as charter schools. Other cities are not just experimenting with these innovative schools, but have embraced them wholeheartedly—and they are working.

We will adopt creative, market-driven solutions essential to creating a world class education system.

We must focus on efficiency and excellence in the funding and allocation of resources. As was reported in the recent auditor’s report, there is sufficient money within the school system to accomplish our goals. Waste and inefficiency in procurement practices and abuse of resources must not be tolerated. We must focus on accountability.  The practice of   just throwing more money at a problem must cease. We must be wise and deliberate in our allocation of resources.