Yesterday, former public school teacher Aaron Ford launched his plan to set every Nevada student up for success with a great education. In addition to increasing school funding, improving child literacy, and training and retaining the best teachers, Ford’s plan centers on the things he knows students need – informed by his own experience as a former public school teacher: guaranteed school meals, online child safety protections, and investing in union apprenticeships and job training programs so that no matter what a student’s dream is, they have a pathway to realize it.

As reported in the Las Vegas Sun, ensuring that every Nevada student has the opportunity to achieve their dreams through education is personal to Ford. Growing up in a working-class family, Project Upward Bound gave him the chance to be the first person in his family to go to college and build a career and a family. But with Nevada at the bottom of the educational rankings under Joe Lombardo, that dream is out of reach for far too many Nevadans. As Governor, Ford will fight to give every Nevadan the educational opportunities that transformed his life.

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Las Vegas Sun: Ford tabs restoring universal meals as priority for Nevada schools

• “I grew up eating stale candy bars for dinner and taking some of those stale candy bars to lunch. I know what it's like to be hungry in the classroom and having a hard time learning,” Ford said. “And I've been a teacher. I've taught those students who've likewise been hungry and had a hard time learning.” 

• [On job training programs] “We know that these programs can produce high-paying, quality jobs, and they can bring opportunities for the dignity and respect that's associated with the job to these students,” he said. 

• “Despite all of that, Joe Lombardo continues to support Donald Trump's plan to, for example, eliminate the Department of Education and to cut federal funding for Nevada schools,” he said. “I went to court to protect that billion dollars a year that we received from the federal Department of Education, a Department of Education which, incidentally, provides opportunities for students who come from less affluent neighborhoods. I was one of those kids.” 

• “I just fundamentally believe that every student throughout our entire state, irrespective of where they live, deserves a high-quality education that is going to prepare them for careers or for college,” he said. 

KRXI Fox 11 Reno: ‘Nevada AG Aaron Ford Unveils New Education Plan’

• “The Student Success Agenda focuses on improving literacy, increasing per-pupil funding, and supporting teachers through training and retention efforts.”

• “Ford says this proposal is aimed at improving outcomes for students statewide.”

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