>> Neil: ALL RIGHT.
I DON’T KNOW IF THIS HAS EVER
HAPPENED TO YOU WHEN YOU WERE IN
SCHOOL.
YOU MIGHT HAVE DREADED THE
RELEASE OF YOUR REPORT CARD IF
YOU HADN’T PREPARED YOUR PARENTS
FOR THE WORST.
WE’LL GET A NATIONAL RECORD CARD
MONDAY WHEN THE LATEST IS
RELEASED ON STUDENT MATH AND
ENGLISH SCORES.
THAT’S WHY THEY CALL IT THE
NATIONAL RECORD CARD.
A FELLOW WATCHING IT CLOSELY,
JEB BUSH, THE FORMER FLORIDA
GOVERNOR.
HE OVERSEES EXCELLENCE IN
EDUCATION AND HAS MADE A LIFE
EFFORT NOW TO HELP STATES GO
AHEAD AND PUT THE FOCUS AND THE
ATTENTION ON EDUCATION, QUALITY
EDUCATION AT THAT.
HE’S KIND ENOUGH TO JOIN US NOW.
GOVERNOR, GOOD TO HAVE YOU.
>> THANK YOU, NEIL.
THANKS FOR SPOTLIGHTING A REALLY
IMPORTANT SUB THAT DOESN’T GET
MUCH ATTENTION WITH A MONTH LEFT
IN THE ELECTION.
EDUCATION IS NOT A TOP NATIONAL
POLICY ISSUES, BUT IT’S HUGELY
IMPORTANT FOR OUR LONG-TERM
SUCCESS AS A COUNTRY.
IT’S LIKELY THAT THE NATION’S
RECORD CARD WILL SHOW HORRIBLE,
HORRIBLE SITUATION OF DECREASES
IN LEARNING, PARTICULARLY WITH
LOW INCOME STUDENTS.
YEARS OF EFFORTS TO TRY TO
IMPROVE RISING STUDENTS
ACHIEVEMENT, ACTUALLY COULD BE
BLOWN UP.
WE’LL FIND THAT OUT MONDAY
MORNING.
I THINK RATHER THAN DO THE
TYPICAL THING IN POLITICS WHERE
PEOPLE WILL BLAME THE PANDEMIC
OR SAY THE DOG ATE MY HOMEWORK
OR ALL THE THINGS THAT GO ON IN
POLITICS TODAY, WE NEED TO
FOCUS, REFOCUS ON SERIOUS POLICY
MAKING AND ENGAGEMENT WITH
PARENTS SO THAT WE CAN DEAL WITH
THESE BIG LEARNING LOSSES.
>> IT’S CLEAR THAT COVID AND
OBVIOUSLY THE PEOPLE DOING
CLASSES REMOTELY IF THEY WERE
LUCKY TO DO THAT DID HAVE A
FACTOR IN THIS.
YOU ARGUE IT’S BIGGER THAN THAT.
EXPLAIN.
>> TEACHERS HAVEN’T BEEN TIGHT
THE SCIENCE OF READING, WHICH IS
THE CONSENSUS STRATEGY THAT
APPLIED RIGHT WILL YIELD RISING
STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT.
THERE IS AN ASSESSMENT IN MANY
STATES FOR KINDERGARTEN, FIRST
AND SECOND GRADERS TO DEAL WITH
THE DEFICIENCY EARLY ON.
THERE’S NOT THE TEACHING --
THERE’S NOT THE MENTORS FOR
TEACHERS THAT ALREADY EXIST.
OUR SCHOOLS OF EDUCATION ARE NOT
GOOD AT TEACHING.
PARENTS ARE NOT AWARE OF THE
DEFICIENCIES THAT EXIST.
IN FACT, YOU KNOW, THE REPORT
CARD THAT THEY GET IS GREAT.
EVERYBODY IS MAKING As AND Bs
BUT THE NATION’S REPORT CARD
WILL SHOW THAT THE PROFICIENCY
LEVELS ARE LESS THAN HALF OF
FOURTH QUARTERS WILL BE READING
AT GREAT LEVEL.
THAT’S A TRAGEDY.
DEVELOPING STRATEGIES TO MAKE
SURE THAT THERE’S A COMMAND
FOCUS BY PARENTS AND BY POLICY
MAKERS AND TEACHERS ON READING
AND MATH HAS TO HAPPEN.
I WOULD SAY PARENTAL CHOICE,
GIVING PARENTS MORE CUSTOMIZED
SOLUTIONS INCLUDING ALLOWING
THEIR KIDS TO GO TO THE SCHOOL
OF THEIR CHOICE RATHER THAN ONE
THAT THE BUREAUCRACY SUGGESTS AS
WELL.
>> Neil: WHEN YOU WERE GOVERNOR
OF FLORIDA, YOU LED THIS
OPPORTUNITY FOR PARENTS TO
EXPLORE CHARTER SCHOOLS,
CATHOLIC SCHOOLS, OTHER SCHOOLS.
OTHER CHOICES.
YOU MIGHT ARGUE THAT DECADES
LATER, GOVERNOR, GOVERNOR
YOUNGKIN IN VIRGINIA HAS TAKEN
THAT FURTHER TO SAY PARENTS NOT
ONLY HAVE A CHOICE BUT HAVE TO
FIGHT BACK AND SET STANDARDS OR
WOKE EDUCATION.
IT’S A DIFFERENT FEAR, I GRANT
YOU I’M BUT MORE PARENTAL
INVOLVEMENT.
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THAT?
>> I TOTALLY AGREE.
THE FIRST THING IS TO NOT SAY
THAT PARENTS DON’T HAVE A SAY IN
THEIR CHILD’S EDUCATION.
THAT’S THE REASON WHY GLENN
YOUNGKIN GOT ELECTED.
HE FORCEFULLY SUGGESTED
OTHERWISE.
AND THESE CULTURAL ISSUES ARE
IMPORTANT.
IT’S ALSO KIND OF IMPORTANT THAT
STUDENTS LEARN HOW TO READ.
IF YOU DON’T -- IF YOU’RE NOT
CAPABLE OF READING BY THE END OF
THIRD GRADE, IT’S REALLY HARD TO
IMAGINE HOW YOU’LL TO SCIENCE
AND MATH AND SOCIAL STUDIES
STARTING IN FOURTH.
SO THERE’S A NEW APPROACH.
BELIEVE IT OR NOT, MISSISSIPPI
IS ONE OF THE LEADERS IN THE
COUNTRY FOR A NEW STRATEGY THAT
HAS EMERGED.
TAKING SOME SUCCESS FROM STATES
LIKE FLORIDA AND BUILDING OR IT
WHERE TEACHERS UNDERSTAND THE
SCIENCE OF READING.
AND THERE’S A NEW EFFORT BY
GOVERNORS ACROSS THE COUNTRY,
REALLY FOCUS ON MATH AS WELL AND
TOOLS THAT PARENTS CAN USE LIKE ZURN AND CON ACADEMY SO THAT
ZURN AND CON ACADEMY SO THAT
THEY CAN PLAY A STRUCK --
CONSTRUCTIVE ROLE.
PARENTS OUGHT TO BE GIVEN THE
INFORMATION WHERE THE STUDENTS
STAND AND THEY SHOULD BE GIVEN
THE TOOLS TO RECTIFY THOSE.
THESE LEARNING LOSSES ARE REAL
AND PARTICULARLY REAL WITH LOW
INCOME FAMILIES THAT DON’T HAVE
THE RESOURCES THAT AFFLUENT
FAMILIES DO.
SO TO ME, THIS IS A NATIONAL
CALLING.
IT’S NOT A NATIONAL FEDERAL
PROGRAM FOR SURE.
IT IS A NATIONAL CALLING.
WE SHOULD HAVE MENTORS AND
TUTORS IN ALL OF THESE SCHOOLS.
WE SHOULD BE DEALING WITH THIS
BECAUSE THESE LEARNING LOSSES
WILL CREATE ECONOMIC HARDSHIP
AND PATHOLOGIES THAT WILL
DEVELOP FOR THE NEXT GENERATION
THAT WILL BE HARD TO OVERCOME.
>> Neil: WE MIGHT ALREADY BE
SEEING IN IT COLLEGE
ENROLLMENTS, GOVERNOR.
IN THE LATEST PERIOD, THEY’RE
DONE ABOUT 2%.
CHINA OCCUPYING MORE OF THE TOP
100
100 SECONDARY EDUCATION MODELS
AND FEWER U.S. SCHOOLS ON THE
LIST.
WHAT DO YOU THINK IS GOING ON?
>> WHO IS MARCHING THE STREETS
FOR THE FACT THAT LESS THAN HALF
OF OUR KIDS ARE READY FOR
COLLEGE?
WHO IS FOOLING WHO?
WE HAVE LOWERED STANDARDS, WE’VE
LOWERED EXPECTATIONS.
WE BLAME ALL SORTS OF REASONS
WHY STUDENTS AREN’T LEARNING
RATHER THAN REDOUBLING OUR
EFFORTS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY
DO.
IT IS A DANGER.
IT’S HARMING OUR COMPETITIVE
POSTURE.
>> Neil: BUT WE’RE SPENDING A
LOT OF MONEY.
>> OH, MY GOD.
MORE THAN --
>> Neil: SO IS THAT THE ANSWER
OR ARE WE JUST PUTTING IT IN THE
WRONG AREAS?
>> NO.
WE’RE PUTTING IT IN THE WRONG
AREA.
WE’RE NOT FOCUSING ON
CUSTOMIZING THE LEARNING
EXPERIENCE.
WE SPEND MORE IMPORTANT ACCIDENT
THAN ANY OTHER COUNTRY IN THE
WORLD.
WITH COVID MONEY STILL UNSPENT,
GOVERNORS AND POLICY MAKERS,
LEGISLATURES AND SCHOOL BOARD
MEMBERS HAVE A REAL CHANCE NOW
TO DEVELOP MEANINGFUL STRATEGIES
THAT WILL RECTIFY THIS.
WHAT SHOULDN’T HAPPEN AND IS
LIKELY TO HAPPEN IN SOME PLACES
TO POINT FINGERS AND SAY THIS IS
SOMEONE ELSE’S FAULT.
IT’S NOT MY JOB.
THAT WOULD BE A TRAGEDY.
>> Neil: LET ME ASK YOU, THE RAP
AGAINST REPUBLICANS IS THEY
DON’T HAVE THE CONCERN FOR
TEACHERS THAT DEMOCRATS DO.
THAT’S WHY TEACHERS GENERALLY
MORE IDENTIFIED WITH THE
TEACHER’S UNION VERY POWERFUL
WITH DEMOCRATS MORE THAN
REPUBLICANS.
NOW, YOU COUNTERED THAT A LOT
WHEN YOU WERE GOVERNOR IN
FLORIDA.
YOU WERE ABLE TO FORGE
PARTNERSHIPS.
THAT IS A RAP THAT STILL EXISTS.
DOES THAT WORRY YOU?
>> IT IS AN ISSUE FOR SURE.
I THINK THE OPPOSITION TO
TEACHER UNIONS IS VERY DIFFERENT
THAN HOLDING UP HIGH THE
PROFESSION OF TEACHING AND DOING
THINGS TO NECESSARILY TO
INCREASE PAY, TO GIVE BETTER
TRAINING.
TO IMPROVE THE SCHOOL’S OF
EDUCATION.
THERE’S A LOT THAT CONSERVATIVES
CAN DO TO IMPROVE THE TEACHING
PROFESSION.
IF THE ECONOMIC INTERESTS OF
TEACHERS IS THE ONLY THING THAT
MATTERS BECAUSE UNIONS DICTATE
THAT AND STOP THE REFORMS THAT
WOULD MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR
RISING STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT TO
TAKE PLACE, IT’S IMPORTANT TO
OPPOSE THAT.
HOPEFULLY THAT WILL HAPPEN MORE
WHERE PEOPLE ARE NOT FEARFUL OF
TAKING ON THESE ENTRENCHED
INTERESTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
THE STATES THAT WILL DO IT LIKE
ARIZONA JUST PASSED THE FIRST
STATEWIDE ESA EDUCATION SAVINGS
ACCOUNT WHERE THE MONEY RUNS
WITH THE STUDENT.
THE PARENTS BE CUSTOMIZE THE
LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR THEIR
KID.
THAT KIND OF REFORM WILL IMPROVE
ALL SCHOOLS.
MORE STATES ARE TRYING TO
EMBRACE THAT KIND OF IDEA.
>> Neil: GOVERNOR, I’D BE
REMISS, THERE’S OTHER NEWS
DEVELOPING RIGHT NOW.
JUST LAST WEEK DONALD TRUMP HAD
CITED YOUR FATHER, YOUR LATE
FATHER, GEORGE H.W. BUSH, THE
FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED
STATES AS SOMEONE WHO HAD PAPERS
HE SAID TOOK MILLIONS AND
MILLIONS OF DOCUMENTS TO A
FORMER BOWLING ALLEY.
THEY WERE PIECED TOGETHER WITH
WHAT WAS OLD AND BROKEN CHINESE
RESTAURANT.
IN ORDER, THEY WERE STORED IN A
PLACE LIKE THAT.
I DIDN’T QUITE UNDERSTAND THE
ATTACK LINE, BUT I DID WANT TO
GIVE YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO
RESPOND TO THAT.
>> SURE.
I MEAN, HAVE YOU HEARD THE
SOUTHERN EXPRESS BLESS HIS
HEART?
>> I HAVE, INDEED.
>> IT’S BLESS HIS HEART.
THIS IS A WEIRD ACCUSATION.
THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES, WHEN
THEY’RE BUILDING THESE
PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARIES HAVE TO
FIND A PLACE TO STORE ALL OF THE
DOCUMENTS THAT ARE GOING TO GO
INTO THE ARCHIVES AT THE
THESE -- AT THE PRESIDENTIAL
LIBRARIES.
THIS WAS AN ABANDONED BOWLING
ALLEY THAT THEY FIXED UP, THAT
THEY SECURED THAT HAD ALL THE
SECURITY NECESSARY TO MAKE SURE
THAT NATIONAL SECURITY MATTERS
WERE PROTECTED.
THEY USED THAT TO BUILD OUT THE
PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY.
JUST AS EVERY OTHER PRESIDENT
HAS DONE AS WELL.
YOU KNOW, I THINK THE ADDED
FEATURE OF THE CHINESE
RESTAURANT MAKES IT ALL
EASIER --
>> Neil: THE CHINESE RESTAURANT
LOST ME.
I DO REMEMBER ABOUT A TEMPORARY
STORAGE FACILITY AS THE LIBRARY
WAS BEING BUILT.
I REMEMBER THAT.
WHERE DID THAT COME FROM?
WAS HE INSINUATING THAT YOUR
FATHER HAD A LINK TO CHINA
THERE?
WHAT DID YOU THINK?
>> I THINK THAT’S WHAT HE’S
TRYING TO DO.
IT WILL A LITTLE TOO SUBTLE FOR
ME TO COMPLETELY GRAB.
THE FACT IS THAT I THINK WHAT HE
WANTS TO SAY IS EVERYBODY DOES
IT BASICALLY.
EVERYBODY TAKES DOCUMENTS AND
STORES THEM AT THEIR HOTEL OR AT
A BOWLING ALLEY AND HE DIDN’T DO
ANYTHING WRONG.
WHETHER HE DID OR DIDN’T, I
DON’T KNOW.
THE SIMPLY FACT IS THAT EQUATING
THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES EMPLOYEES
DOING THEIR DUTY IN THE PROPER
WAY IS A FAR CRY FROM KEEPING
NATIONAL SECURITY PAPERS IN
MAR-A-LARGO.
>> Neil: IS THAT A SERIOUS
ENOUGH OFFENSE TO YOU, GOVERNOR,
THAT HE DID HAVE THOSE DOCUMENTS
THERE IN MAR-A-LARGO, THAT I
WARRANTS FOLLOWING ACTION?
>> IT’S REALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO
TELL.
I HAVE NO CLUE.
>> Neil: BUT YOU DO SEEM TO BE
SAYING THERE’S A BIG DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN THAT AND THE STORAGE OF
YOUR FATHERS AHEAD OF THE
LIBRARY?
>> EXACTLY.
MY DID DIDN’T GO TO THE BOWLING
ALLEY AND DIDN’T GO TO THE
CHINESE RESTAURANT TO LOOK AT
MILLIONS OF PAPERS AND PICK
WHICH ONES HE WANTED.
THAT IS THE PROCESS THAT EVERY
PRESIDENT ONCE THEY LEAVE OFFICE
GOES THROUGH.
IT’S VERY DIFFERENT THAN TAKING
DOCUMENTS THAT MAY OR MAY NOT
HAVE BEEN APPROPRIATE TO TAKE.
I DON’T KNOW.
THAT’S THE PART I DON’T KNOW AND
STORING THEM IN AN INSECURITY
PLACE LIKE MAR-A-LARGO.
>> Neil: DO YOU HAVE ANY HORSE
IN THE RACE FOR THE NEXT
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION?
>> NO.
I’M FOCUSED ON RISING STUDENT
ACHIEVEMENT AND HOW WE CAN
CREATE A BETTER AMERICA BY SOLID
POLICY AT THE STATE AND LOCAL
LEVEL.
>> Neil: SO WITH A RON DESANTIS,
A POPULAR GOVERNOR, AS WERE YOU,
HE’S REMORED TO BE IN THE MIX.
>> HE WILL BE A FORMIDABLE
CANDIDATE IF HE RUNS FOR LOTS OF
REASONS.
THE REASON WHY I’M A RON
DESANTIS FAN, HE’S GOVERNED
EFFECTIVELY IN THE STATE THAT I
LOVE.
HE’S BEEN A REALLY GOOD
GOVERNOR.
>> Neil: EDUCATION SHOULD BE
MORE OF A KEY ISSUE BOTTOM LINE,
NO MATTER WHO GETS THAT
NOMINATION.
>> YEAH, IT’S NOT A FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT ISSUE.
IT IS A NATIONAL PRIORITY TO
IMPROVE WHERE WE STAND.
>> Neil: FINALLY, YOU’RE
ASSESSMENT OF WHERE THINGS
STAND.
YOU KNOW, THE BRITISH PRIME
MINISTER IS OUT AFTER 44 DAYS ON
THE JOB.
WE TALKED ABOUT GLOBAL IMPATIENS
WITH LEADERS RIGHT NOW.
REGARDLESS OF THE POWER, IS
THERE A LESSON OR REMINDER HERE?
>> YEAH, I THINK THERE’S A BIG
LESSON IN THAT THE INSTITUTIONS
THAT WE’VE RELIED ON, THE PEOPLE
THAT PRESIDE OVER THOSE
INSTITUTIONS ARE NOT WORKING THE
WAY WE WANT THEM TO WORK.
SO PEOPLE BELIEVE OUR DEMOCRACY
IS IMPERILLED MAYBE NOT FOR THE
SAME REASONS THAT THE PUNDITS ON
SOME OF THE TELEVISION OUTLETS
TALK ABOUT, BUT BECAUSE THEY
BELIEVE THE SYSTEM IS NOT
WORKING FOR THEM.
THEY BELIEVE THE SYSTEM IS
BROKEN AND THERE’S TOO MUCH
CORRUPTION.
SO FIXING THAT I THINK WILL
ALLEVIATE SOME OF THIS AMAZING
AMOUNT OF ANXIETY THAT PEOPLE
FEEL THAT IS ERODING THE BELIEF
THAT THE SYSTEM IS WORKING.
>> Neil: FINALLY, FLORIDA IS A
BEACON IMPORTANT FEEL THAT WANT
TO ESCAPE HIGH TAXES.
GIVEN THE HIGHER RATES AND
CORRECTION, IF YOU THINK THE
BEACON HAS LOST ITS ALLURE?
>> ABSOLUTELY NOT.
I THINK FLORIDA WILL CONTINUE TO
GROW.
THE STATE LEGISLATURE AND THE
GOVERNOR DESANTIS HAVE FOCUSED
ON THE LONG-TERM THINGS,
PROTECTING THE EVERGLADES,
BUILDING MORE INFRASTRUCTURE AND
DOING THE THINGS NECESSARY TO
KEEP OUR STATE FUNCTIONING WELL.
WHEN YOU COMPARE FLORIDA’S
ROADS, THEIR SCHOOLS, THE
SYSTEMS, THE WATER SYSTEMS AND
THE LIKE COMPARED TO PLACES
WHERE PEOPLE ARE MIGRATING OUT
OF, IT’S A PRETTY EASY SELL.
SO I WOULD EXPECT TO SEE --
HOPEFULLY WE WON’T GO TO A
RECESSION.
FOR A LOT OF WORKING FAMILIES
THAT WILL BE A DISASTER.
BUT IF WE DO, FLORIDA WILL FARE
BETTER.
>> THANKS, GOVERNOR.
I NOTICE A LOT OF NEW YORKERS
AND NEW JERSEYIANS ARE COMING TO
YOUR STATE AND HAVE DONE VERY
LITTLE TO HELP THE DRIVING IN
YOUR STATE.
DOES THAT WORRY YOU ON THAT
LEVEL ALONE, TOO MANY
NORTHERNERS ARE COMING AND THEY
DON’T KNOW HOW TO DRIVE?
>> YOU KNOW WHAT?
WE HAVE ENOUGH NATIVE BORN
FLORIDIANS THAT DON’T DRIVE WELL
FOR ME TO BE TOO CRITICAL.
>> Neil: ALL RIGHT.
SLIPPED THAT ONE IN THERE.