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My parents moved around Stockton and Lodi. I had a lot of anxiety about jumping into another classroom. They were always putting me in special ed. But I was smart; I wasn't like these kids in the special-ed classes. But it would make me feel a little bit stupid.

I couldn't help but to think back to my classmates at Thomas Jefferson High School in San Antonio. They had the same talent, the same brains, the same dreams as the folks we sat with at Stanford and Harvard. I realized the difference wasn't one of intelligence or drive. The difference was opportunity.

My mom grew up in Kansas, my dad in Indiana. They had boring childhoods.

I spent the better part of my developing years in Massachusetts.

I grew up in a country that I thought was special. And it was.

Massachusetts children cannot only lead the nation in test scores, they can be competitive with the best in the world. And the gap in achievement among races can virtually disappear.

Many more schools can be outstanding.

Texas was such a welcoming place, and with its unbelievable history and tradition, it's extra special to be a part of that.

We have a strong agricultural heritage in Kansas.

I believe we all agree that, for the health of Kansas, nothing is more important than education.