Gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy unveils ‘radical’ education agenda for Ohio  

Vivek Ramaswamy has revealed how he would put Ohio’s education system on the path to greatness if elected governor in 2026.

Ramaswamy championed an ascendent vision of American education while at an event Wednesday hosted by Americans for Prosperity.

“We are going to bring a radical revolution of standards to our public schools. I would tell you we’re going to elevate our standards, but that may be too much,” Ramaswamy told the audience, “because our schools are not operating with standards today.”

Only 60% of Ohio’s public-school students are proficient in reading and just 53% in math, according to the state’s 2023-24 report.

Ramaswamy said the solutions were simple and he would be willing to follow the lead of other successful states.

“It’s not rocket science. It’s applying the science of reading, a known curriculum to be able to help children actually read. I’m not beyond looking at other states that have had success in different areas, whether it’s Texas or Florida and their tax rates, whether it’s Mississippi and the Mississippi miracle.”

The “Mississippi Miracle” occurred when the Magnolia State drastically improved its reading and math scores with commonsense policies such as the science of reading. In 2013, Mississippi was ranked 49th in reading, but by 2022 it jumped to 21st.

Ramaswamy also criticized entry-level pay for teachers as too low, calling for merit-based pay raises. “What I’m talking about is pro-teacher,” he said. “May not be pro-teacher-union. May not be pro-bureaucracy.”

When unions bargain collectively on behalf of all teachers, it prevents school leadership from rewarding exceptional teachers – or getting rid of the bad ones.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic helped parents realize what schools are really like, more families have left the public-school system entirely in favor of private school or homeschooling.

Ramaswamy supports school choice programs because they not only empower parents but also force public schools to up their game.

“Of course, as a conservative I favor school choice,” he said. “It turns out that the public schools in the areas that have adopted school choice actually perform better.”

Last, Ramaswamy talked about the importance of students understanding artificial intelligence.

“We are entering the era of AI, [we’re] entering the area of quantum computing,” he observed. “It is a moral dereliction if we allow our kids to grow up in that country, in that world, to be victimized by the future, instead of to be empowered to seize that future.

“We will once again be a nation and a state not in our decline, but in our ascent. And fixing this educational achievement crisis is the most foundational building block required to actually get there.”

With only two other candidates actively running for governor in 2026, Ramaswamy is the runaway favorite.

A successful businessman who gained national recognition during his 2024 presidential run, Ramaswamy has a long list of high-profile endorsements, including President Donald Trump; U.S. Senator Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio; four of Ohio’s U.S. representatives, including Jim Jordan; over 50 state lawmakers; the current Ohio Secretary of State and State Treasurer; and the Ohio Republican Party.