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Enhancing Education As frustration grows over public education and college costs continue to rise, our nation is facing a critical point for our education system. As a Member of Congress, I have made it one of my top priorities to ensure all children have access to the fundamental right of a good education and I am proud to report that Congress is busy at work to make this happen. One of the first priorities of the 110th Congress was to make college more affordable by passing the largest increase in student aid since the 1944 G.I. Bill, the College Cost Reduction Act in addition to reauthorizing the Higher Education Act. Not only do these bills increase Pell Grants, simplify the financial aid process and aid parents in planning for college costs, but they provide assistance to graduates by cutting student loan interest rates in half and providing loan forgiveness for public service after 10 years. Congress also successfully worked to give more children the best start possible to a good education by passing the Improving Head Start for School Readiness Act. By authorizing more funding, this bill will allow more children to get the essential skills they need to a successful education. So much of education is focused on closing achievement gaps and I believe Head Start is one of the best tools to do that. Finally, Congress has the opportunity to improve public education through the reauthorization of No Child Left Behind. The reauthorization process is well underway with House and Senate Committees holding dozens of hearing to figure out where improvements need to be made. I have also done my own fact-finding; by visiting schools up and down the Central Coast, at all grade levels. I wanted to hear directly from teachers, parents and administrators, those working under NCLB on a daily basis, about what is and is not working. I believe changes need to be made to improve our education system and the reauthorization process is our chance to do just that. |
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