Kansas is a great state. We want it to make it better.

Since statehood, the hope and promise of Kansas has rested upon three essential building blocks: opportunity, accountability and responsibility. From the beginning, Kansans believed that opportunity is what we make of it; that all of us must be held accountable for both our action and inaction; and that the future of Kansas is the responsibility of each of us. In good years and bad, these building blocks have stood the test of time.

We know that Kansas faces great challenges. But we also know that we have faced and overcome great challenges before, and we will do so this time as well. To those Kansans who are out-of-work, underemployed or fearful of losing their jobs; to those Kansans who are concerned that they will have to leave our state to find opportunity to meet the needs of their families; to those Kansas children who live in poverty and despair, please hear this message—the hope and promise of Kansas is not lost. So long as we firmly believe in opportunity, accountability, and responsibility, hope and promise will never be lost.

Our administration's focus is on growing the Kansas economy, reforming state government, excelling in education, and protecting families through our Road Map for Kansas. We will work to enhance opportunity, demand accountability and take responsibility for helping build a future for our state that is as good, positive and uplifting as its people. This is our commitment, our resolve, and our promise.

National and global forces of which we will have little control will certainly come to bear on Kansas during the next decade. But without goals and a focus, we will simply wave in the wind waiting for a change of weather. We cannot any longer stand idly as global events overtake us. So we ask you to join us in standing firm on the things that have made this state great. In this spirit, we are committed to the following Kansas Report Card for a Brownback Administration:

1. Increase in net personal income. 1 (See footnotes.)
2. Increase in private sector employment. 2
3. Increase in the percentage of 4th graders reading at grade level. 3
4. Increase in the percentage of high school graduates who are college or career ready. 4
5. Decrease in the percentage of Kansas’ children who live in poverty. 5

While there are many perspectives as to what areas of public policy are most important to the future of our great state, it is our belief that these five specific points of focus are of the most critical importance. These five points will have the greatest influence on growing the economy, reforming state government, enhancing the impact of our children’s educational experiences, and ultimately, protecting the well-being of Kansas families.

This Road Map is only the beginning. We look forward to working with all Kansans to make our state the best place in the country to live, work and raise a family. Please join us in this effort.

Footnotes

1. This metric will be measured according to statistics made publicly available by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis on disposable per-capita personal income.
2. This metric will be measured according to statistics made publicly available by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics on private sector non-farm jobs.
3. This metric will be measured according to National Assessment of Educational Progress 4th grade reading scores.
4. While no organization currently measures these statistics nationally, we will work with the Kansas Department of Education to craft a transparent and understandable metric.
5. This metric will be measured according to the percentage of Kansas children living in poverty as provided by the Annie E. Casey Foundation.