John Bel Edwards on Education

Increase in teacher pay isn't enough, hope to do more

Invest in higher education for student success in workplace

$47 million increase for higher education

Abraham: Supports investment in distance learning. Campaign website lists NSF grants received by LA schools. But these aren't determined by Congress.

Bel Edwards: Yes. Proposed 2019-2020 school state budget includes a $47 million increase for higher education. Called for increases in Louisiana's TOPS scholarship program.

Eddie Rispone: No position found.

Make charter school creation a local issue; end Common Core

Replace Common Core with more K-12 school funding

Edwards highlighted that he has "never flip-flopped on this issue," citing his vote against Common Core in the last legislative session.

On school letter grades, Edwards concluded, "A bad school letter grade is much more likely to indicate the level of poverty than the quality of teaching. A recent study of sixteen states that use school letter grades stated what we have always known: they are invalid and misinform parents."

Edwards pointed to his leadership on increases to K-12 spending at the state level, saying, "I am responsible for the only increases in K-12 funding in the last seven years. $140 million worth. Bobby Jindal didn't ask for it. I did it anyway.