PUBLIC EDUCATION

Strong public schools are the foundation of the 45th. Families here and across the state care deeply about education, as they should. Public education is the great equalizer, and Chandler owes everything to a great public education. 

Still, many parents and educators feel our schools are under strain. Staffing shortages, special education gaps, mental health needs, and enrollment challenges create real pressure in classrooms every day. The reality is clear: we must fully fund our public education system. But the conversation can’t stop at funding levels alone. Families deserve both strong investment and strong results.

Washington should be a national leader in academic performance. When other states are making measurable gains in early literacy or math recovery, we should look at what’s working and adopt successful strategies. Our educators are working incredibly hard, so we need to make sure the system around them supports them.

Chandler's public education agenda is centered on these 4 things:

1. Fully fund special education and essential classroom needs so local levies can strengthen schools instead of backfilling responsibilities the state has failed to meet.
2. Recruit, retain, and respect great educators by improving compensation, reducing unnecessary administrative burdens, and giving teachers the resources and professional freedom to help students succeed.
3. Expand early learning and pre-K so every child begins school ready to learn, regardless of their family’s income or ZIP code.
4. Prepare students for the future by strengthening career and technical education, building pathways to college and good-paying jobs, and ensuring AI is used safely and responsibly in our classrooms.

Our goal should be clear: stable classrooms and extracurriculars, obsessively high standards, and students who are prepared for whatever path they choose. 

When we match meaningful investment with a relentless focus on results, our students and educators can lead the nation.