State Senator Casey Cagle, a candidate for lieutenant governor, released an outline for broad educational reforms in a speech Monday before the Fayetteville Rotary Club. Cagle’s plan focuses on strongly supporting the ongoing education reform efforts of Governor Sonny Perdue and State School Superintendent Kathy Cox, and proposes new initiatives to lower the dropout rate, increase accountability and enhance local control.

“As a state, we must move away from a one-size-fits-all approach to education and build a system around the needs of the individual child. This is accomplished best by having a state government that sets high standards, encourages local control and innovation, and empowers local school systems and educators with the flexibility and support they need to excel in teaching our children,” said Cagle.

The key provisions of the Cagle education plan include:

• Offering students in their junior and senior years new avenues in learning marketable skills and earning college credit, in order to give them a strong incentive for staying in school.

• Maintaining and enhancing local control and flexibility with regard to education funding.

• Offering incentive grants for school systems that implement accountability and parental involvement initiatives modeled on the highly successful approach of the Gainesville City Schools.

• Maintaining a level playing field for students and parents who choose to attend private schools or home school.

“By taking the lessons learned through the experiences of Gainesville and other school systems that have succeeded in the face of adversity and applying them to new challenges, we can significantly improve the performance of all our schools. The education plan we offer aims to achieve this goal, and no effort ranks as more important for Georgia’s future,” Cagle continued.

“Raised by a single mom, Casey Cagle seized the American Dream to become a successful, self-made business leader and one of the most experienced Republican leaders in the State Senate. A devout believer, a devoted husband, and a proud father, Casey Cagle has been the champion for Georgia's families at our State Capitol for over a decade,” according to a statement by his campaign. “As our next lieutenant governor, Casey Cagle will continue to passionately advocate our values and lead with a vision of opportunity for all of Georgia.”

The Cagle plan can be viewed at www.caseycagle.com.