“Education is the key to unlocking the world, a passport to freedom.” — Oprah Winfrey

One of our greatest natural resources is an educated citizenry.

In fact, Rick Harper, director of the University of West Florida’s Office of Economic Development and Engagement, identified education as our community’s No. 1 priority.

Improving our economy, our health, our overall quality of life depends on a quality educational system.

It’s reassuring — and a self-fulfilling prophecy — to see that others understand the importance of education in making people’s lives and the places in which they live better.

In Gov. Rick Scott’s Florida First budget proposal for next year is more than $20 billion for K-12 education, including raising per-pupil funding to record levels and increasing funding for innovative strategies that support student success.

In these challenging times, the governor’s proposal shows a glimmer of hope that he recognizes that education is key this state’s future prosperity.

By funding education, Gov. Scott is helping to ensure that we can continue to reshape the future with an educated and skilled workforce.

Improving the delivery and quality of education across the state is axiomatic with improving the quality and delivery of education in the Pensacola Metro.

Increasing funding in education on the state level goes a long way to improving education on the local level in schools and classrooms across the district.

In Escambia County, the focus and funding have to be directed to early education.

Preparing children for kindergarten and helping them along the way through high school graduation and beyond is crucial to this community’s economic health and overall quality of life.

Kindergarten readiness and high school graduation rates are among the key metrics in the Studer Community Institute’s Pensacola Metro Dashboard.

Objective benchmarks are critical to measuring progress and identifying areas that need improvement.

It’s sobering to see what education looks like for some of our children who start out behind in school and never catch up by graduation day.

It’s no coincidence that only 66 percent of children in an Escambia County public school are ready for kindergarten, and 66 percent graduate from high school on time.

What that means is, a third of children aren’t ready for to start school and don't finish on time.

The correlation between kindergarten readiness and high school graduation is real. It should not be ignored.

It points to the importance of making education a priority because it has to be first and foremost in our hearts and minds — and money.

When we get it right, our health, our economy, our community will see great progress.

About 75 percent of the governor’s proposed $507 million increase in public school spending would come from raising property taxes on businesses and homeowners as a result of higher property values.

The budget proposal also includes $1 billion in tax cuts and the elimination of nearly 1,000 full-time jobs from the state workforce.

In his 2014 campaign for re-election, Scott promised voters a billion dollars in tax cuts over two years and a “historic” increase in per-pupil spending.

His budget proposal sets aside $7,221 per student, an increase of $116 per student over the previous year and $95 above the state’s record level of funding in 2007-2008, including:

— $86.8 million to support additional instruction in the state’s lowest-performing schools

— $74.5 million to enhance school safety, an increase of $10 million

— $80 million to assist districts in implementing their Digital Classroom Plans, an increase of $20 million over last year

Diversifying Florida’s economy and making the state the first in the nation for jobs, requires a commitment education and an investment in students, Scott said in announcing his budget plans in Jacksonville.

“As leaders of tomorrow, we want to make sure our students have the skills they need to succeed in the classroom and in their careers, which means making strategic investments in our schools and teachers,” he said. “I am proud to make these historic investments today as we continue our goal of making Florida the best place in the world to get a great education and career.”