Education remains Governor Hodges' top priority for South Carolina. Thanks to the education initiatives passed in 1999, South Carolina's crusade for our children is on the march.

The 2000 session of the General Assembly has picked up the pace of our progress. In his executive budget, Governor Hodges has devoted more than half of the increase in recurring funds, $221 million, for public education initiatives. These initiatives include:

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Education Lottery: Governor Hodges has proposed an education lottery to provide much needed resources to South Carolina public schools without raising taxes. Governor Hodges' education lottery proposal will allow students to attend technical colleges and two-year universities tuition-free. Additionally, the education lottery will provide a $2,000 scholarship for students earning a "B" average, and provide a $2,000 bonus for existing LIFE and Palmetto Fellows scholarships. Education lottery proceeds will also increase funding for needs-based scholarships and tuition grants. The education lottery will fund special scholarships for teachers to upgrade their skills, and make South Carolina a national leader in classroom technology.

Raising Teacher Quality: In his State of the State address, Governor Hodges set the goal of training 500 nationally certified teachers in South Carolina by the year 2002. Governor Hodges has proposed loans to teachers to pay for the cost of national certification. These loans would be forgiven once a teacher successfully completes national certification. Governor Hodges has also proposed raising teacher salaries to $525 above the Southeastern average, giving teachers the option of 28-year retirement, and a $7 million initiative to promote teacher quality and professional development.

Character Education: Governor Hodges believes that schools should reinforce the values of right and wrong that children learn in their homes. Character education should be mandatory in every South Carolina classroom. Governor Hodges has proposed $890,000 for grants to school districts to offset the costs of implementing a character education curriculum. Governor Hodges has also proposed separate, cost-free legislation requiring students to address teachers, principals and staff with titles of respect such as "sir" and "ma'am."

Strengthening Middle Schools: Governor Hodges believes that the middle school years are a critical time in a child's life. Middle schools need to be strengthened so children can start preparing for post-secondary education and avoid risky behaviors. Governor Hodges has proposed a $7.5 million Excellence in Middle Schools Initiative, giving middle schools the flexibility to hire additional guidance counselors, safety officers, nurses or psychologists.

Full Funding for First Steps: Governor Hodges continues to focus on his early childhood education initiative, First Steps to School Readiness. First Steps has organized in all 46 counties in South Carolina. Applications for grants to implement locally-driven early childhood education initiatives are currently under consideration. Governor Hodges has requested an additional $10 million in First Steps funding to provide implementation grants in all 46 counties.

Promoting Accountability: Governor Hodges has proposed new funding to continue the full implementation of the Education Accountability Act. These initiatives include $8.2 million for a revised assessment program, $6.4 million for principal and teacher specialists in impaired school districts and $3 million to prevent at-risk school districts from becoming impaired.

Sales Tax Holiday: The purchase of required school supplies, uniforms and band instruments represent some of the hidden costs of public education. Governor Hodges has proposed the creation of a sales tax holiday on all purchases of clothes and back-to-school items during the first weekend in August.

School Transportation: Governor Hodges has proposed $10 million to purchase new school buses, and a 3 percent pay raise for school bus drivers.

Higher Education: Governor Hodges has proposed $24 million increase in higher education spending. These funds will be allocated among increases in performance funding, seed money to help win competitive research grants, equipment upgrades at technical colleges, tuition grants, and the creation of a statewide electronic library.