Cooper talks teacher pay, school choice at Public School Forum event

Cooper said he wants the business community to help him focus on three things: increasing funding for public education, repealing House Bill 2 and expanding Medicaid coverage.

"Do we continue corporate tax reductions, personal income tax reductions? Or are we going to say we’ve done enough, it's time now to truly invest in education?" he said. "Don’t cut the corporate tax again. Instead, raise teacher pay."

Cooper noted that "there are a lot of Republicans who support public education in the General Assembly" and said he believes lawmakers can find common ground "as long as we act like adults."

The governor said he is concerned about continuing the state's Opportunity Scholarships school voucher program, which offers up to $4,200 in taxpayer funds to low-income families who want to send their children to a non-public school.

"I am very concerned and have opposed vouchers because of the lack of accountability. We really don’t know what these schools are doing or how they are performing," he said. "Instead, we need to invest in our public schools."

Cooper called for the return of the Teaching Fellows program, or something similar to it, to provide scholarships for college students who are studying to become teachers. He also said the state should focus more on early childhood education, using data and research-driven policies.

"Starting these kids early is a moral responsibility, I believe," Cooper said.