John Bel Edwards: “First, the single test we should apply in determining what to do with our public school system is what is in the best…”

“First, the single test we should apply in determining what to do with our public school system is what is in the best interest of the kids-- not what is in the best interest of either political party, not what is in the best interest for either candidate for the President of the United States, but what is in the best interest in improving the lives and education of our young people. Anywhere one goes in North Carolina, if one were to ask folks what is the most important thing we do as a Government, they would tell you over and over: Educate our young people. If one were then to tell them the reality, which is that we spend less than 1 percent of the Federal budget on over 50 million school children in the United States, they would be absolutely flabbergasted. The single issue that the American people believe is the most important thing their Government does takes less than 1 percent of the Federal budget. They believe more needs to be done. I believe strongly that our school systems should be run at the local level, that people at the State and local level know much better than people in Washington how our school systems should be run.”