This initiative, called First Steps, is off and running in all 46 counties. For example, in Greenville County, two out of three at-risk students in a First Steps summer initiative have now tested ready for the first grade. As I keep stressing, our top priority must continue to be education, and I can say that our education initiatives are beginning to pay dividends. During the last few years, we have put the basis of teacher accountability in place. And with increased salaries, we should demand more from our teachers.
Parents deserve to know how their schools measure up to a set of standards.
Sure, we will be asking more of our teachers, but we ll be giving them the tools to reach their goal. We will be treating teachers like the professionals they are. I challenge the General Assembly to make this vital commitment to improving education by making it their No. 1 priority as well. And as I stated in my Jan. 3 budget message, I urge all members of the General Assembly to fund these priorities in education, as well as our tax relief priorities, so we may continue the progress we have made. A. Unfortunately, there s no revenue to maintain state initiatives at their current levels.