VIRGINIA – Last week, local elected officials and the Virginia Education Association president called out Winsome Earle-Sears’ extreme agenda that would strip funding from Virginia public schools and create chaos and uncertainty for Virginia students and their families. Sears has repeatedly tried to defund public education and supports using taxpayer dollars for private schools.

Daily Progress: Charlottesville Dems wanted specifics on Earle-Sears' education policy. She didn't give them

• “Especially now that she’s campaigning to be the governor of Virginia,” said [Charlottesville Mayor Juandiego] Wade, standing in front of City Hall flanked by Democratic state Sen. Creigh Deeds and Carol Bauer, president of the Virginia Education Association teachers' union.
• “Winsome Earle-Sears,” he continued, “isn’t going to ensure our students have the resources and the stability that they need; she’s trying to take away the resources and fuel the chaos.” 
• “The next generation of Virginians deserve better,” he said.
• Earle-Sears, who spoke for roughly 30 minutes Tuesday in front of a crowd of roughly 100 assembled beneath the Dome of UVa's iconic Rotunda, didn’t yield much in the way of a detailed policy plan.
• The contrast couldn’t have been more stark. Earle-Sears spoke in the cool, air-conditioned Rotunda; Wade, Deeds, Bauer and state Del. Katrina Callsen (who joined the conference later) stood outside in the hot sun.
• “Winsome Earle-Sears is more interested in supporting the national Republican Trump agenda instead of supporting our students and public schools,” said Deeds.
• “She basically says she’s going to follow the footsteps of Trump, and I know what that looks like is really chaos and instability for our students,” said Callsen.
• “If you’re running to lead the commonwealth, then you should be focused on what’s best for our students and what makes our students be successful. It’s clear that Winsome Earle-Sears isn’t there,” said Bauer.
• One after another, the four took swipes at Earle-Sears and accused her of supporting an “extreme agenda” they say aims to defund public schools and sow chaos and uncertainty among Virginia students and families.

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