Nikki Setzler has always been one of the state's leaders and advocates for education reform. And he always will be. Nikki knows our state's economic future rests in the hands of today's children and that the future of our children depends on the quality of education we can provide as parents and as a school system. He also recognizes that meeting our state's many other challenges - from reducing taxes to growing the economy and improving our quality of life - all start with education. That's why he is fighting to ensure the quality of education our  children receive meets the demands of the 21st century.

In addition to fighting for safer schools and improving academic standards as well as teacher quality, recruitment and retention, Nikki's experience and leadership has meant real education reform such as:

   • Giving all high school students access to new,       virtual learning and Internet-based classrooms
   • Establishing a full day pilot program for four-            year-old kindergarteners
   • Passing statewide charter school legislation
   • Maintaining teacher salaries at $300 above the       Southeast average to attract more qualified       teachers
   • Eliminating the outdated Palmetto Achievement       Challenge Test (PACT)
   • Fully funding the Education Finance Act
   • Enhancing the LIFE, HOPE and Palmetto Fellow       scholarship programs
   • Providing new funding for textbooks and summer       school

And Nikki was an integral part of passing and enacting the Education and Economic Development Act, one of education's most important legislative acts. This bill provides an age-appropriate framework - beginning in elementary school and continuing through high school graduation – for schools to groom our students for success. Nikki also currently sits on the Senate Education Committee and is a former chairman of this panel.