Since the start of this campaign, only one network is taking you on the road to the white house. From the early announcements in the policy speeches to the candidates visiting diners in iowa and New Hampshire and, of course, the campaign rallies. All right, copy that. The republican race has now narrowed. The democratic race has sharpened. We will stay in carolina with the big democratic primary this saturday and then we move on to the multistate primaries and caucuses in early and mid march. This race is just getting underway. ,ou can follow it all here online at cspan. Org, and of course on cspan radio. And we are back with the National Governors association hosting its winter meeting in washington. Coming up in a moment or two, talked about education policy. Hear fromors will Teresa Sullivan and Lamar Alexander, who had a huge role in passing the every Student Succeeds act. We expect this event to begin shortly. Our live coverage is here on cspan. Would you join us by being seated, please . Our friends today . If you could join us, we could get started. Yeah. Ok, we are all getting seated here so that we can start this great meeting. Thank you. Lets gavel the media and the National Governors association of education and Workforce Committee is now called to order. I want to thank everyone for joining with us. This is a great day for a great new start in our nations educational world and im very appreciative of folks joining us today. Im governor in silly, of of washington. , im honored today to have of alabama, our vice chair and our distinguished colleagues, distinguished educators. To my left is stephen parker, who has served on the Workforce Committee. Hes done great work venture the governors can be effective in fermenters of this opportunity that we have. Live also been joined by a person who i think i may nominate later for a coprizewinner, of the peace prize, Lamar Alexander. He will discuss the law he senator patty murray. Later we will hear from Teresa Sullivan about how states can better promote Stem Education. Before i go any further, i have to make one local plug for the state of washington. We have a nominee for teacher of goingar, mr. Nathan gibbs , i hope you will all vote for him when he comes up for that tremendous honor. We all know why we are here. Ensuring that every single student has access to a quality is our paramount duty. Its one thing share, republicans and democrats alike. We know that the governors can help to implement this tremendous opportunity. Last year i just want to tell you what we wanted to build on in our state and why i am excited about this new law upon opportunity. A paramount duty of our state, we have made unprecedented investments in our children in the last couple of years. We have had the largest investment in k12 funding in the history of our state. I am proud to say that there was one state that enjoyed tuition reductions for all of our college students, Community Colleges well, the state of washington, and we hope that the other governors will follow our lead eventually. Every kindergarten serving child will have access and we have had reduction of early class sizes in unprecedented increased access and highquality Early Childhood education. We are now tackling a teacher shortage. I hope that we can talk about this today. We are joining other governors and leading the efforts to improve Stem Education and access to coding and Computer Science. As many of our states are improving their Graduation Rates , i think that our state demonstrates why this new law is so exciting to us. It allows us to build on the local leadership that we have in 50 states, which is why we are here today. We know that there is a lot of work ahead of us. Thats why im proud to be able to work with you in this great committee. I am particularly proud about the Governors Associations work with congress to get this bipartisan every Student Succeeds act through the u. S. Congress. I think the Governors Association played an Important Role in the adoption of this bill. We know that the goal of no child left behind was important, but the punitive aspects of the law and the lack of state flexibility we know adversely impacted our states and students and i know that other governors share that view. Is where a former preschool teacher and now senator from washington and foreigner governor from tennessee former governor from tennessee stepped in and delivered bigtime. For a number of years governors have called on congress to reform the no child left behind act and i am proud about our work on this. This lawroup endorsed heartily. It was the first major legislation that our association has endorsed in the Education Field for 20 years. So, this is good work on a bipartisan basis that we did as well. I think it is testament to how closely congress adhered to the longstanding nga priorities and i think its a good thing that congress has finally figured out that they should follow the nga and all matters and they certainly did here. But that did take some really tremendous bipartisan leadership in the congress. , havingsurprise to me known senator murray since she was a young legislator in 1988, its not a surprise but she has been able to work out with senator alexander. She worked on the waiver issue. She has delivered for our country and ours eight in so many ways. She is unfortunately working back in the state today but i want to take a moment to recognize her hardworking staff. Sarah bolton, amanda beaumont, leah ho tech, which you stand . We like to recognize staff in your proxy for all the staff in the country. [applause] and we know my former colleagues worked on this as well. It was a herculean effort. Bob klein, bobby scott, both really helping to fashion this proposal, convincing their colleagues that this was an endeavor worth working on. We are joined today by their staff and members of senator alexanders staff. Thank you for the effort you put into this new education law. Again, lets applaud all the staff who have been working on this. [applause] and i really look forward to senator alexanders comments on this. Before i turned to him, though, i want to comment on something that is important to all of our states, particularly my state we have got to figure out a way to finance these necessary investments. It will take some additional financing. We desperately need the u. S. Congress to follow this bipartisan success with another bipartisan success. To past federal fairness legislation that will allow us to really have a structure of make theseo investments that we now know, because of this flexibility, we can put new money to work successfully. As i mentioned, in our state we have been working to provide these greater investments and have had some success, but one crucial policy tool that will help us to accomplish this is for congress to pass fairness legislation in the form of the remote transactions parity act. Now, our 50 states, because of this whole in our financial structure we are losing a combined 23 billion per year because of our lack of authority to collect sales taxes on internet purchases. This not just hurts schoolkids, it hurts the fundamental foundation of our economy, our small businessmen and women. An enormous disadvantage against giant consortiums in every state in the union. So, if you believe in your mom and pop appliance sales people, your shoe salesman, your bookstores, your small towns in your states, weve got to get this job done. Weve had great bipartisan success and we are hoping to have another. We are hopeful that we can crack is not. So, thank you, senator alexander , for your work on this issue as well. At this point i want to turn the floor over to governor bentley. Governor . Governor bentley thank you, governor inslee. Its a pleasure to be here with you and help you to leave this committee in the next year. In alabama we could not agree more than what this committee and these governors all feel in this legislation that has been passed in the agreement that is so important to our children. In fact, in alabama one of the areas that i have pushed so strongly for is a firstclass prek program that allows every child in the state of alabama to be a part of the firstclass program. If the funding continues as we have been doing over the last every apparent that which is a child to go to the best firstclass program in the to go tothey will get that in alabama. The foundation that is laid by firstclass prek can never be substituted for. There is nothing more important than education than a quality firstclass prek program. We believe that we will be able to implement that before i get out of office. We appreciate the proactive steps of the u. S. Department of in reaching out to governors, working with nga. We look forward to working with secretary king and his staff to be sure that is implemented thoughtfully and effectively. The message to the department has been twofold. First, the federal government should consult frequently and meaningfully with governors throughout the ess a implementation. Second, the federal government should issue regulations selectively, and only on provisions were states and local districts agree the guidance is needed. Though James Madison said that the federal government has few and defined powers, but the numerous and infinite powers. Int is what we believe, education, as well as thats what we believe as far as governors are concerned. Moving forward, governors will continue to utilize nga to engage the department and ensure that it adheres closely to the principles of federalism. To assist with these efforts, governor inslee and i are pleased to announce that the nga will be establishing a task force. Collectiveve as a ,oice for governors on ess a moderated to the execution of the law, matching congressional intent, ensuring that the implementation assistance meets the needs of governors offices in state education staff. We are calling on all the governors who want to be in the center of making this new law work to join our efforts. If you would like to join, please speak with stephen parker. We look forward to working with all of you. As we know, many stakeholders contributed to the development and passage of a strong ess a bill. Stakeholders will contribute to the implementation. For this reason, nga recently joined with nine educational organizations. This was a miracle in itself. Because these organizations came together and Work Together to help develop this. They will help put into place the implementation of this law. We are honored that the leaders of these organizations are here with us today. We had a meeting with them earlier. And i would like to recognize them. The National Education association. The American Federation of teachers. The national pta. The National Association of secondary school principals. The National State board of education association. The superintendents association. In particular, we want to thank you toss they senator Howard Stephenson and New Hampshire commissioner of education, virginia barry, for flying in just today to represent the National Conference of state legislators and the council of chief state school officers. And i come as i said, met with them earlier and had a very good open discussion with them at 12 00 today. All for your commitment to our nations students. We look forward to this partnership. . I wantednor inslee introduce governor hassam has led i want to do internet introduced the next governor. I decided tom volunteer for the Lamar Alexander for governor campaign. Leading with insight and wisdom so that i could help the campaign win. The candidate thought i would be better putting up yard signs. [laughter] i put up a lot of yard signs that year for the candidate, who soon became the next governor of tennessee. 2010forward a few years to , the night before the general election, we were doing a statewide to her on a bus. We were heading into the last stretch and by that point in time it looked like i might win and the senator on the bus with me said you know, there is no better job in the whole world than being governor. But if your home state happens to be tennessee, it truly is the best job in the world. He could say that as he had served with distinction as the governor of tennessee. But i would add to that one thing. Theres no better job than being governor of your home state, particularly if the senior senator from your state happens to have been a governor before. We can talk a lot about federal state relations and what we need out of the congress, but when you are the leading member of your state delegation who has been a governor who has been through those battles and knows how important it is to have decisions about the state happen at your state, then you cant have a better advocate than that. Hes been a governor, a United States senator. He was the secretary of education for first president bush. We have a lot of famous sons of tennessee, but i would argue we all him the deepest threat of red deepest debt of gratitude. Welcome back to senator Lamar Alexander. [applause] thank you,xander bill. Ladies and gentlemen, i see some very good governors around the room. We think weve got the best in tennessee. I was having vague memories as i looked around the room. I know how much governors like to take advice from each other. Not much. I suspect how much you like to take advice from former governors, even less. So they said 15 to 20 minutes. I think i will take less than that and see if you want to have a conversation about the subject that we have. I was out of office for about a month someone came up to me and said we have a name , roostere like you today, feather duster tomorrow. [laughter] as a feather duster, here i am. Before i Start Talking about education i would like to take three minutes of my time and go to the issue that governor governor inslee governor governor inslee talked about, marketplace fairness. Marketplace fairness is the federal proposal that would recognize the right of states to collect your sales tax from everybody who owes it and not just some of the people who oh it. Thats what it is about. The importance of bringing it up now is that representative shave chat chavitz, of utah, has pisa legislation that will get a vote this year. Senate, we to the have a five person group that passed the bill two years ago chavitll support the senator mcconnell has said that we will have a votez bill. On the issue in the senate this year. A vote in the house or the senate sometimes here. Now, this issue to me is about two words. States right. I dont think its any of Washington Post business to tell states what their tax policy ought to be. Iod. I think it should be a slam dunk, but its not. Its also a lot of money. Heres the amount they say tennessee loses each year from taxes not collected from people who already of them that buy things from out of state. Its 629 million dollars. Ohio has decided to reduce its income tax. If Congress Allows ohio to collect all of its sales tax. Virginia decided that we would stateur law and that the gas tax would not go up. In texas, its 1. 8 ilion dollars per year. Tennessee is telling texas they texas collect even though has passed a law saying that its similar. The former secretary of state told me once, he invited me to and about japanese industry insisted on talking about japanese protocol. Was the former president , the king of england, a United States senator, everyone they outranked but the current president. Outside their state, there they outranked almost nobody. [laughter] so, i stayed home a lot. [laughter] i would invite them to come talk to you at home. We come home every weekend. Meeting with the governor at and i think you will get a better answer on that. Lets be blunt about it. And we had a chance to vote and allone last week the republicans ought to vote for it, if they believe in federalism. I focus on republicans in your and then ithis year think will happen is what south , but this isoing in the nice few weeks and that and the real purpose was to thank you and asking for your help. With a fixed to no child left and they say that this law was the largest and most of us in the quarter of a century. And i would think those who work and ing it for doing it, will give you one example of that. My Police Friend author told me one time man make a suggestion . And then let me tell you a story. And it could go to any governor and they would have given it to me. And so when i became a senator and got involved in education, and im not in and whatthe national happened . It got it up has past was because washington did not like what i just said. Because of the waivers that you know about, where many of you came to the department of education and said all of our schools will be failing if you force no child left behind. The secretary said that he will give you a waiver but you have to do a few things. One was how to evaluate teachers. Some states had their waiver rejected or revoke because they were not evaluating teachers the way that washington said. It affected the National Education association and the American Federation of they,rs, which is why like the governors, the left and the right in this case were fed up with washingtons telling schools what they are to do. I whole point in telling you this is that it is unusual. It is unique for these organizations to be on the same page at once. I would take advantage of that why you can. Youve already done it by forming our national coalition. And very good for federal money, a goal at work workis not considered intended. It could be the Virginia State teachers or school officers, who were helpful to us in passing as long. Etc. , etc. Andcoalition has been made i would recommend that you find 15 20 andthis i would suggest that you want it approved by july of next year. Shareay that you get your of the 17 billion. Not much money, relatively. But its been a source of the mandates and rules. And waivers are gone. Adequate yearly is yours,or school there weretons bid and how doribed ways i qualify . I hope you do it. But how you will do it is up to you. Up to you. About what the secretary of and other standards are your business. So our tests and other ways of accountability systems. How you perform over other schools. You can read down the list. The idea is to implement it as congress intended, monitor the u. S. Department. Its got a year. Next is when it will be writing its rules and regulations on this. Engage in the writing is the governor mentioned. And other actions, watchful and and some get the idea that there could be fire hair and even republicans might do this and then go home and make a speech about federal mandates, some of which they have just imposed. For. Atch there will be a plan approval. And the covers for a whole year and it was the only time we had done that now history. In 1989 sharers and is from the charlottesville military. Creating National Education goals. They were national, but not washington. States began to work statebystate towards those goals. In 1996 the governors flexed their muscle and worked with president clinton to change the welfare laws in this country. It made a big difference. Flex theirter they muscle and for the first time in 20 years they gave a full throated endorsement to a piece of federal legislation and the result was the christmas miracle that is the most important demolition of power from washington to the states in 25 years. I hope you wont stop there, but i hope you spend the next year not only with your national coalition, but there will be a in each state. We can show that the purest pass is to states,ards communities, and classrooms, and not through washington, d. C. Thank you. [applause] senator, you still sound like a governor. Which is just great. You still got that attitude. Ou mentioned telling a story ive got a little story and the question. Ive got a grandson who is a wonderful kid but hes a challenging student at times. The other day his mother, my daughterinlaw, sent me an email that she had gotten from a grandsons teacher. This teacher had some cool ideas about how to help my grandson. I was impressed by the ideas but what i was really impressed by was on the email the teacher had sent it to the students mother at 1 35 a. M. In the morning. This is a woman who at 1 35 is helping figuring how to help out my grandson. How do we keep people with that type of motivation in the teaching profession . Right now weve got a teacher gap shortage in my state. 60 have left the profession in the first five years in my state. I have some ideas why that is, but can you give us some ideas on how this bill may help us to skin that cat . Senator two things. One, give teachers more freedom and flexibility to do with it is best for their grandson. Youre youre grandson. They are in teaching for the passion of it, almost all of them. They really feel shackled, just like anyone would, with someone peering over the shoulder from a distance, saying that this is what you need to do about that young boy. So, you have the opportunity to give teachers much more freedom and flexibility in their classrooms for about, for example, testing. Thats up to you. There are 17 tests still required but they are all designed between the third grade in the 12th grade. Thats just not many test. Decide to test, you decide what they should count for, if you decide what other tests and assessments there ought to be. We think that there will be better tests as a result of this because teachers will have more flexibility. Second, i hope we dont give up helpnding fairways to teachers get more for doing well. They have a tough time, but we have to do that. The only way to do it, i think, is statebystate, community by community. That gets the salary of higher for the best teachers and there have got to be fairways to do that. Governor inslee got it. Governor bentley . Should sayntley i governor alexander, but its no senator alexander, this piece of legislation really is fantastic for the state and i want to thank you for all the hard work you have done in supporting this. You know, i dont know how many are president ere of the state school board in alabama. I am. You know, maybe its unique to alabama. I dont know. But i look forward to working with my state school board in implementing this, as well as working with the ega, of course. I just want to thank you for your hard work. I wanted to ask you a question about an issue i dont know if this is something that we will bring up later in our discussions on the state school board, but it is something i mentioned earlier, it deals with prek education. Is there anything specific in that would help that particular issue . By trueblue truly believe the most important part is a great decade. You, and yes. Bill bennett as the secretary of federal rules and i set he said i will make you about area i bet that there are more state rules than federal rules. We started looking and he was close to write. We also found a lot of states in a lot of School Districts thought that they couldnt do things when, in fact, they could. A part of this state Coalition Work is to let teachers and superintendents know you are free to innovate. You can do stuff. For example, on your second point, you can use money on prek education. At the gun got a cheat sheet just to say that. Title i supports early lowincome child students. Teachers, title vi, title iii, Indian Students and a variety of other things. We also have a new provision sponsored by senator murray that creates more places for Early Childhood education, but to me more importantly it allows states to get grants to coordinate a large amount of federal dollars already coming your way. About 23 billion federal dollars, only seven or eight of which is headstart, that come toward children below six years of age. The testimony before our committee, for example, is that there were these federal silos and that you could not mix up childcare money with headstart and etc. So, there is flexibility to use federal dollars and there is new money to coordinate a large number already coming. Governor inslee thank you. The floor is open for questions. Governor . Governor first of all, im the only governor that was here when Lamar Alexander was chair. [laughter] governor bentley thats true every time they bring the subject up, terry. [laughter] governor i just want to thank you for your passion for education. A youngat when i was governor and your chair of the National Governors, as you pointed out, you have that time for results and put that focus on education and the National Governors have come back to focusing on education again and again. We recognize that it is one of our most important responsibilities. We appreciate the freedom and flexibility that we will get out of this act in your great work in making a possible. Want to say you know, we continue to look at ways that we can reward good teachers that take on more responsibility and do more to improve student achievement. We have a program that we are phasing in the we are hopeful will make a difference in improving student achievement. But i also wanted to say that you hosted the conference in 1980 or, in nashville. And he did it in 2014. And so, a tennessee continues to make great progress and thank to ber your leadership able to do the things we need to and thats a new and as youand nass pointed out, it was rejected because the have a plan that would meet the department of the is a very important subject. Thank you, terry of course, what he did in 1989 really set in motion many of the things here. Backthe background room there, he was always there and so i dont even like much state control. And we made the mistake other i mean, we understand the and also localhe control. I got to say that we have not done everything right, but we are trying to catch up. Let me tell you a story. My middle daughter is a high achiever and likes being tested andthe degree to assessment what does the law required terms is it aiting system good approach for assistance is with where it is in 2001, that citizeny you have a 17 and they take about two hours and they have to be desegregated and reported to the and i was here at our and all the 17 are worst state and local. Part of a reason that they had them was that these 17, what you did about the results of the aboutthere was rules we said keep the in and you give some tips to assess challenge progress. Any need to report them. The and thent to you decide which fits your state. If you want to pick this one, fine, or that one, fine. Its hard to develop your own we startedity in the everyone just to. Riters were together questions . Floor is open. Governor thank you, senator alexander. We appreciate the fact you have gubernatorial experience. , yourg as a governor wisdom has been on display. So, thank you. I applaud the effort of ess a. It is a major step in the right direction. The wall street journal said that the greatest evolution of power shifted back to the states the states over a quarter century. What do you suppose there are some out there who say that it is not enough . Or that it is not better . Ive got some in my own state who did not vote for ess a. None of my house members voted for it and only one of my senators. Pass in thei dont house. Have you got any explanation for what seems to be a vote against common sense . [laughter] thats abentley pretty good explanation might there. Compromise, on two sides, there were still people who dont trust the states. They didnt like this much flexibility. I disagree with that. End, there were people said it doesnt go far enough. I would go further, too. Example, i introduced an amendment called scholarship for kids act. Which would allow each of you in to take all the federal not all the federal dollars, but all but a few. , come to yourn state, come to utah. You could turn those into scholarships that would follow all of your low income children to the school that you decided they should go to. It might be a Public School or if you are in a state where you have private school choice, you could do that. In other words a federal dollars are supposed to be for low let themudents, file follow to the school they are assigned . I think thats a terrific proposal, but i only got 43 votes and it takes 60. So, for me the question was do i say ok, i didnt go as far as i wanted to go and we will forget it . Used to say,reagan take 80 of what you want and live to fight another day for 20 . Its like standing in Salt Lake City trying to hitch right york, someoneew offers you a ride after seven years to philadelphia, and then you stand there for another seven years trying to get to new york directly. Its the n i mean, i believe that in the end you have to get a result. We got a good result. Fortunately we are most of what we wanted, but not all. This was an odd thing for me to understand, but i do know that there are groups out there again, they tend to be on the maybe the side, libertarian element, that seems to be so opposed to this that these voices are intimidating some in the political arena. I think that as republicans in particular, those in the congress and the senate have got to stand up and make sure that there is political cover for everybody. Are regionalhere differences that take place, but we got organizations out there trying to pick off some of the gettingans for only half a loaf as opposed to the whole loaf and i think that winds up being dysfunctional for us in washington. Governor bentley im glad you said that. A lot of people are spreading information that is inaccurate. For example, common core is an issue in every primary. We repealed anything that could of been called a common core mandate. Thats in the law. Thats in the law more than once. All that i can suggest that you do is spend the next year letting people know they arent telling the truth. Other than anything but i just said. Thank you, senator. Andenator, first of all going to philadelphia, thats a good idea. [laughter] ,rom a political point of view is there anything that they will be doing at the state level to push this so that we get the support the governor was talking about . Is there something that we can do more than this . That you can do to help us . I dont think you want the federal government helping you do that, to be blunt. I dont know why governors cannot Work Together. We can read, we know that this is what was written. There will be regulations out in the next year. We will respect the u. S. Department of education, we will work with them, but i think the Better Agency for that is governors and chiefs and teachers working together. I should say, i urged the president when he assigned the build to a education secretary. I promised him that it if you did that i would work hard to make sure that he or she was confirmed. The president did that. John king has been nominated to. He will have his hearing thursday and may be confirmed by the end of the month. I did that because i thought that for a law this important, we needed someone in that position confirmed and accountable to the senate. I dont mean to be flip with you , i just think that john king is going to have his hands full and i think that having stakeholders meet with him is a great idea. But i would recommend that the governors and other organizations take the lead in that. Mention was made a moment ago that while it wasnt required by the president that common core be adopted by the states that it was, as you recall the real incentive was the race to the top money. Which has an amazing way of encouraging people to think in a certain way. Is there anything at all that is remotely equivalent in this piece of legislation that is a financial incentive for or against certain behaviors on the part of states . Not on thentley specific areas i listed like standards, for example. The race to the top money did encourage states to adopt common core. Many had already adopted it. Tennessee was one of them. Many states. Yeah, they have. Kentucky was the first and the standards had been written yet. Governor bentley no, thats wrong. What you find on common core . I think that that would have been eight. We were the first, sir. Im not proud of that fact, but we were. Before the race to the top . We will look that up. [laughter] suburban versus some whiskey. Its sunday,ley we dont drink in tennessee on sunday. [laughter] outfront we dont, anyway. [laughter] but you are making an important point. On the major thing, i think the more incentive was the waiver, the states you had to get required, you would have either common core or Something Like it. To get a waiver. That kind of solidified it in their. Its technically true that the u. S. Department could say we didnt really mandate it, but in affected was the National School boards to the race to the top of did. We thought the cure for that was to get rid of the conditional waivers. You couldnt use a waiver. Then to specifically right in the secretary may not tell what its standards could be. May not Tell Kentucky what its assists should be. I made that list up their things. Thats really unusual. Usually you just say the secretary wont do it unless its authorized. Here they said they would do it anyway. Did it anyway. If they tried to do it again, you should go to court. Will find right, we out which is right. The end result was the same. Most my general feeling was that states were moving right along, dealing with standards and tests. When washington got more involved with it, that created a backlash, both to standards and teacher evaluation. With Higher Standards and teacher evaluation systems that were more difficult. Senator, thank you for being here. Over here, senator. Its no problem. Thank you for being here. I guess my question is with this new law, will you be able to compare and contrast and measure high school Graduation Rates, proficiencies in reading and math from state to state . Governor bentley the best way to do that is through the naval test. Those are required . Required every two years. So, yes is the answer to that. Of course, within your state you will have multiple ways to schools against schools and students against students. Senator, governor bentley and i formed this Unprecedented Alliance of groups to serve as an implementation tool, hoping as you rightly said, focusing on implementation. Our vision for this is that it would be a unifying factor that would help both the stakeholder groups and the administration. Do you have any thoughts on how we can make this fly . When the administration really has an issue, getting this group to Work Together on this . Any suggestions . I think senator baker, who bill hisi love very much, one of rules was consult, consult, consoled. I found president obama good to work with on our effort last year on this law. Were actually taking away power in hisisted administration and he was very straightforward about it. Groupve got a bipartisan that represents almost every organization and i assume he was thing. O do the right i operate from the presumption that until proven wrong, people will try to do the right thing and get a result. That is often the case. The floor is open. Let me ask one more question about the fairness act. Some people in the audience may not be familiar with that. This bill really only collects taxes that are owing. Completeot really taxes. It just makes sure people actually honor their obligations. Do you want to tell us about that . In our state, people who somease on the internet, actually honor that obligation, but most do not. So the marketplace fairness act simply provides a mechanism to make sure everyone honors their time,tion and at the same finance education. It is a rhetorical question but i think it is important for people to understand. It is important and different constituency like different parts of the bill. Thee blunt, democrats like money better and republicans like the states rights better, but theyre both there. If i am governor of tennessee, it going to say, at first, will get my blood boiling if washington tells me i cannot decide my tax structure and it builds an incentive for a state income tax we do not want. You do not want one, either. I will leave that to you. If you are not allowed to collect your sales taxes, that is taking away from you a state decision that affects that. In addition, if the governor of washington wants you wants to put in a plan to pay teachers ite, that is a way to get without raising taxes, or virginia wants to build roads rather than raise the gas tax, it can collects these taxes, or if ohio wants to raise the income tax rate as it did, it can reduce taxes. It leads to the choice of making the case for lower taxes, or and the point you made earlier is very important. We are wiping out the main Street Stores in america. Every small town in every globalization, and the internet is wiping them out. This gives them an additional blow across the face. It is a matter of fairness in that case. If the red states like the states rights and the blue states like the financing, what is keeping the red states from it is a grand compromise. [laughter] other questions . Governor ofy the kentucky, they were first in adopting common core a few months ahead of tennessee. A bunch of states announced the intention to do that. But you were first. This is why senator alexander is successful at a partnership. This is why being first is not necessarily a good thing. [laughter] with that, we will have a great speaker. Senator, thank you so much. A round of applause for senator alexanders leadership. [applause] we want to invite a senator to do an introduction of another great speaker. Thank you on behalf of all of us, to give us the flexibility to do what is right for all of our students is really important for all of us are my secretary of education was very involved in the process of putting this together. When i got a letter to governor, for the first year, she would go all over and say i was hurt third favorite education governor. Then i just put a billion now says i ame her favorite education governor, her father and her husband were governor. It is quite a feat to say that in virginia. I want to thank you. Is one of theer best president s of any it university, one of the greatest in america, the university of virginia, founded by a great governor, thomas jefferson. Ofi sullivan was the author the academys new book that she cochaired this with a former governor of ohio. Strengthening the Regional Workforce Development ecosystem. And i want to welcome president sullivan from the university of virginia. [applause] thank you for the kind introduction. And i want to thank you for allowing us to make this presentation. We share an interest in Stem Education. As the governor said, i had the privilege of cochairing the National Academies of science, engineering, and medicine to her we focus on how to strengthen the ship between universities and industry, collaborating to better prepare our workforce. Cochair was dick, who sends you his apologies because he could not be with you today but he has his priorities straight and today is his wifes birthday. He sends his regards to each of you and asks you connect with him directly if you would like to talk about the report. We have a strong group of educators and Business Leaders on this committee. Their names are listed in the report you have. One of those members has joined us this afternoon and will make reefer marks. Brief remarks. She will make a few comments about the health trust investment. And in stem Workforce Development overall. Much appreciate their support. You have hard copies of the full report. We have also got a twopage summary of the report and a fourpage inventory of specific steps we are recommending for each stakeholder. Our committee organized five regional workshops across the nation. Phoenix, arizona, cleveland, ohio, montgomery, alabama, and fargo, north dakota. We became leaders and employees of the business community, administrators and faculty students from twoyear and universities,e Economic Development experts, chambers of commerce, policymakers, government officials and philanthropic foundations. These as the basis of collecting and analyzing evidence of promising practices. Have three main messages from the report. We first have a lot of students graduating from twoyear and fouryear schools with stem degrees, but many lack of the right, nation of technical and Employability Skills needed to thrive in the workplace. Second, employers need stem graduates who work as professional and Research Development scientists and engineers, the stem narrow skills. Also a growing need for people who can apply stem knowledge in occupations that require some facility with stem concepts but not necessarily a bachelors degree or the stem broad skills. There is a growing need for all outside to have skills indiscipline, including soft skills, problem solving, critical thinking, teamwork, and communication. A request and prospective ecosystem requires proactive steps on behalf of alliances to benefit students. I will highlight three of the dozens of recommendations we have taken and i will ask susan to highlight recommendations from the active of industry. First, college and University President s should designate an administrator or faculty member to be the contest for industry and business. Provost and deans should encourage stem and Advisory Boards to help them as they think about curricula, laboratories, and other ways to connect with students to stem jobs. Third, governors should work with employers and thirdparty intermediaries. To give effective way students the skills they need to succeed in the workforce is by encouraging the collaboration of colleges and universities with local business, industry, and nonprofit employers. I will ask susan to say a few words from the perspective of industry. Susan thank you. Good afternoon. Im a consultant to the Aerospace Industry association. The premier association and collective voice in the United States. Current and future stem Workforce Skills gaps are obviously of major concern for our member company. I want to thank my governor. Im a proud resident of the state of virginia. And i want to thank Carrie Sullivan for the arrest any leadership on our project. It was a privilege to sign on serve on their committee. Majoroing to highlight. Ecommendations employers need to be active not only will provide students with Academic Knowledge but with experiences they need to graduate and enter their careers with workforce ready skills and competencies. The them bottom line is employers sector must be in the game. Andeed to take it seriously to provide sustained and ongoing support to education and training in many ways. I can go with several of the recommendations we have forced civic steps is this an Industry Leaders need to take on their own and in partnership with both the Academic Community and the government, but i will stop here and turn it over to sue and i will take any questions you would like. Associate Program Officer at the charitable trust, a private foundation in new york there to our trust education advocatingfocused on and supporting Higher Standards for all students in the k12 system. We are working with colleges and universities around the country to improve how they delivers them instruction. We are proud of the report produced here and want to thank the Committee Members for their hard work and dedication and being able to still have recommendations but into a neat Little Package for we have already put the report in the has of our partners and grantees. We really believe this will helption colleges and universities improve how they deliver Course Materials to students. We know many students come to college interested in stem that too few finish a stem credential. Oftentimes, we are missing toerse students that we want continue into their stem careers in the end. With that, thank you. Classically happy to answer questions or engage in discussion about some of the issues we brought it brought up. If we are really going to maximize stem, it has got to be precollege. We have got to get a great young women to stay in the math bericulum and be engaged and computer scientists, and get the attempt great young man who may want to be a machinist, and a woman to have an experience. That in thed on whole stage. In a high school setting. . . I am familiar with your state governor. You may remember a number of years ago when you spoke. A number of our Member Companies are active in supporting afterschool programs that can spark interest in these students a club that has a particular stem activity, or our own rocket contest. The most effective way to get kids excited about math and Science Education is to be more focused when they go in the classroom. It is harder for us to deal with the School System directly. We need to be involved in intermediate organizations at the state level. We have done a lot to help the stem networks in various states around the country and be engaged in that way. Questions . Thanks to each of you. President sullivan, a great basketball coach, born in coached under his that it wisconsin when they went to the final four. Got the goods that is before he came to the commonwealth. We appreciate your comments. It is questions that high into the previous question, most of the governors here are doing this because the number one hise most of us here about workforce and career to moment as it ties into Economic Development. In stem and other related technical areas, we are seeing huge shortages. Cases, it is a deterrent to adding more work and more opportunity. Things ie specific hear in our state, and i see mother governors are hearing as well, it is not just expanding partnerships. About scores schools and employers and Higher Education. One of the big challenges seems to be, how do we get to young people and what kinds of influences are there . A discussion beyond the stakeholders about marketing and other things early on to get people interested . We do career plans as early as sixth grade now. Were starting projects in our schools. They are thinking about what they are interested in and what they are good at. They can take courses in junior high and obviously in high school. Times, more courses and technical colleges will offer more courses in high schools in the areas, but we still do not have enough students going into those areas. Im curious, was there a lot of discussion as well about how we get people interested in general about these areas . We had a lot of discussion about that. Susan mentioned one of the issues, which is it is often difficult to get into the schools. One of the best things that could happen with younger students is for them to see what the jobs might be like. The American Labor force has changed so rapidly that many parents cannot prepare their own children because they do not know what jobs are likely to become available if they are not employees themselves. The students do not always get that information either. Summer internships on another great way. Get a students an idea of what is happening out there i think is really important. In fargo,reat example north dakota, about a company that manufactures Farm Equipment and would bring in a new piece of equipment and sibley park it there as a school. They can look at it, talk about it, and think about what makes it run. That was a major employer in their own community. There are ways to do this but we have to think about it more purposefully and we have to overcome the difficult and partial handshakes that now exists between the Employer Community and the educational community. Add at alljust levels, whether it is Higher Education or an elementarys will, i think the critical thing as role models and mentors having a personal relationship with these young people. It is one thing to hear about it in school, but to be exposed to someone and have access to someone who can inspire them through their experience and explain how they got to their careers and what they do, it is the secret sauce, from my perspective. Companies try to do a lot along that line, having employees Service Volunteers for afterschool programs, or mentors in other ways. , would also add my industry what do we need to do to better communicate to young people at all levels . Young people and teachers and parents, what the Job Opportunities are and how they can pursue them. That,nk you for sharing because i have got twos sons, one is a senior in college few yearsut i know a ago when in junior high and high school, was amazing talking to a lot of their friends here and you would ask them what they will do. They will create a nap and that there that was their big answer of how they would sustain themselves. Be a Business Consultant and i would say, you do not just walk out of high school and suddenly become a Business Consultant. You have got to have a foundation for that. I am surprised how many young people think that is what they will duke or the mentoring point is a particularly good one for us to follow up on. Susan our study has focused on higher ed but i have been focused on all levels and it really is a handson experience that ignites kids, whether it is taking apart a piece of equipment or building a robot, that seems to stimulate them. We need kids to have handson experiences from kindergarten. There are great stem prek programs were kids are learning methods and concepts and do not even know they are learning because they are doing it through the arts. I think handson is the key at all levels of education. Specific to your own states but beyond state lines, this is a tough question given the many states represented here. If i were to ask you, if anyone lean forwarddates in your mind, is there one . Not, you can offend us. I can assure you, i know this is not a selfserving question. Susan there is a network of states called stem acts. The Government Association was interested in getting that started. There is a more systemic impact. Your grants and some that came out of the Gates Foundation led to a remission of a multistate network. A number of those states are washington state, ohio, texas, but there are many. I can tell you other states are in various phases, they have one establish that just has not joined the network or they are in the process of building one. Allowed to have favorites, but i will take the time to point out we work with networks of universities and sometimes, these span across states and so we are working with a system where they are, campuses are devising their own solutions with the north to the north star being the same with all of them, Graduation Rates of stem students. Ohio is engaged in a similar kind of work, as is florida and texas. States doinge are things other states cannot do, but these are the ones im closest to. Susan in each of the states we have visited, some places were further ahead. Cleveland in my opinion was further ahead because they earlier. O work on it major employers actively were engaged in thinking through what they would do after a future workforce. Some other cities, i was surprised how many people we brought together had never met each other before. Leaders of the schools had never met leaders of fouryear schools. Even executives from the Chambers Chamber of commerce who didnt have a Good Relationship with the schools. There is a lot of work to be done even at the local level before you get to the state level. I would be remiss if i did i mention my association has been instrumental in convening most of the stakeholders around the country. Been to 16 states to help drive the conversation and collaboration, as well as the district of columbia. We have two more plans this year and intend to do more. Interested inis that conversation with local stakeholders, we would be happy to talk about that. Last question. Lets give a round of applause to our experts. [applause] so a closing comment, does anybody have a burning, closing comment . If not, would like to wrap it up. Two announcements, governor hutchinson and i are launching our Computer Science partnership and we invite you to participate. This is obviously the future and the present. We think coding is something we have got to get engaged with. We will get some work done here. Governorsve the symposium launched shortly. A time and date is to be announced. I hope you will join us and with that, thanks a million and lets go educate some beautiful children. Thank you. We are closed. [captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. Visit ncicap. Org] [captions Copyright National cable satellite corp. 2016] [indiscernable conversations] and the National Governors association will close out its winter meeting tomorrow. Omar alexander, who we just saw, will be at tomorrows session and they will talk about their experience as governors and the relationship between states and the federal government. We have a live more morning at 8 30 a. M. Eastern on cspan two. Later today at 5 00 eastern, we will take you to a Campaign Event with bernie sanders, who speaks to supporters in south carolina, which has is democratic primary set for next weekend. Talked about his campaign moving forward after losing the nevada caucuses yesterday very we also heard from Hillary Clinton asked about the role of independent voters. You cannot just come you are right you came close in nevada. To win, you have got to win. Super tuesday, can you win the majority of delegates on super tuesday . Mr. Sanders right. We are following that issue very closely as far as where we allocate resources and my time. I think we have a good shot in colorado, a good shot in minnesota, a good shot in massachusetts, and i think we look pretty good in oklahoma. The last poll, in vermont, 180 . Surprise people in other states as well. You have blamed the whole trust issue on independent unfairfor decades of attacks by republican smears against you, by republicans, but how do you fix it Going Forward . You will need independent voters if you do become the nominee. Ms. Clinton absolutely. I will do what i have always done. Toill keep reaching out voters. I understand that voters have questions and at