Pittsburgh Review

State Sen. Doug Mastriano, the Republican candidate for Pennsylvania governor, has outlined his plan to support students and empower parents.

"Here is the bottom line: I will fully fund our schools and teachers, protect students and empower parents,” Mastriano said in a statement.  “Unlike my opponent, I believe schools should be educating – not indoctrinating – our children. I also believe that parents – not bureaucrats – should have a final say over how we raise our kids. As governor, I will empower Pennsylvania parents and end the grotesque practice of brainwashing young students with radical, racist ideologies.”

Mastriano's education plan for Pennsylvania includes immediately banning the teaching of critical race theory and gender theory in schools and conducting a review of districts' diversity, equity and inclusion plans, according to the state senator's website. Mastriano would work with the General Assembly to introduce a bill that would shift funding from systems to students through an education opportunity account for parents. Other priorities include increasing curriculum transparency, expanding the EITC and OITC programs, and establishing a "parental rights" statute in law.                   

While Mastriano supports cutting per-student public school funding, and enabling parents to decide whether they want their children to attend public, private or charter schools or be homeschooled, his Democratic opponent Attorney General Josh Shapiro wants to increase public school funding and utilize a formula, which has been opposed by the Republican-controlled State Legislature, that would distribute more of the state's education dollars "equitably" across districts, Whyy reports.                     

Mastriano defeated eight challengers to win the Republican nomination in the state's gubernatorial race, according to Ballotpedia. Mastriano and Shapiro will face off in the Nov. 8 general election.