Governor Jeb Bush: Reimagining Education in Missouri

Education reform advocates were inspired and re-invigorated by former Florida Governor Jeb Bush’s visit to Jefferson City on March 2, 2017. Governor Bush accepted CEAM’s invitation to share his insights and experience of accelerating education reform and supporting parent advocacy from his experience as governor of Florida and his role as board chair of the Foundation for Excellence in Education.

Governor Bush engaged legislators, community leaders, and parents in discussions around three key policy areas: charter school expansion, education savings accounts, and course access. He stressed the importance of strategies that work for all parents, not just those with the means to seek alternative services for their child.

The most powerful message Governor Bush shared was that when work to improve education policy, our allegiance must always lie with families, not institutions. When we put students first, we realize that is no educational equity until there is equality for parents to make a choice for their child’s education.

Check out the editorial co-authored by Governor Bush and CEAM’s board chair, Brian Murphy in the St. Louis Business Journal here, Empowering Missouri parents on education.

Parent and CEAM volunteer, Lisa Smith with Governor Bush