September 3, 2014/Press Releases

A Voters’ Back to School Reminder: Republican Charlie Baker’s Education Record

For Immediate Release
September 3, 2014

Contact: Pat Beaudry
Phone: 617.939.0800

BOSTON—As students head back to school across the Commonwealth, the Massachusetts Democratic Party offers voters a reminder of Republican Charlie Baker’s record on education. While Republican Baker continues to root for failure to try to save his own political future after losing four years ago, our students are number one in the nation – and Democrats are working everyday to close the achievement gap.

“While Republican Charlie Baker continues to root for Massachusetts to fail for his own political gain, Democratic leadership has made education a top priority here in Massachusetts – and the results speak for themselves.  If Republican Baker is really for strengthening our schools, then why did he propose slashing education funding and try to block public school classrooms from accessing computers?” said Democratic Coordinated Campaign Chair Ben Downing. “In addition to leading the nation in student achievement, if Massachusetts were a country, our students would be 8th in the world in math and 2nd in science. No matter how hard Republican Baker tries to tear down Massachusetts, he cannot deny our success in education and that kind of standing in the world. And, he certainly will not want to compare it to the status of our schools under 16 years of Republican Governors.”

Republican Charlie Baker’s Record on Education:

  • As the Secretary for Administration & Finance, Republican Charlie Baker proposed $25 million in cuts to higher education for the FY 1996 Budget.
  • In FY 1997, Republican Baker again proposed cuts to higher education, this time a $30 million cut despite state spending increases projected up to 2.5%.
  • Continuing his war on education spending, Republican Baker co-wrote a government reorganization plan that would force the state to cut $100 million from education, including $52 million in higher education.
  • In 1996, media reported that Baker’s office refused to sign off on school district applications for state aid for a program to computerize classrooms for Internet access, even forcing every school system to reapply for the funding. Baker pronounced himself unconvinced of the teaching values of computers.

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