Education

Education

                                      Education  

    As a teacher for 23 years, I understand the importance of the investment in our educational system. Our future leaders will not have the skills to compete in a global economy or at institutions of higher learning if we do not maintain fundamental as well as competitive educational resources within our local schools. I am confident that our students will be properly prepared as long as we acknowledge our quality instructors and administrators in the sixth congressional district of Maryland. In the 110th Congress alone, I have cosponsored 22 pieces of legislation that will benefit the education of those in the sixth district.    

    I am concerned that the federal dollars, which make it to our school systems, come with significant strings attached. Our federal government should have a limited role in our educational system, as local control of education is paramount to the future success of our children. While federal efforts are often touted as effective and innovative, many have mutated into burdensome mandates to financially blackmail our schools into compliance. We must return control to the teachers, parents, and school administrators wherever possible, because I know that your potential impact on our youth is unrivaled by any bureaucrat in Washington, D.C. or Annapolis, Maryland.

    The No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act became law on January 8, 2002 and was the largest educational reform bill in many years. The goal of NCLB is to educate and help each child meet their own educational potential; however, NCLB mandated flat, standardized testing to measure pupil performance and assessment. I have many reservations about making federal requirements regarding education. It is important that students be competitive in the global market, especially within research and development (R&D), and putting such stringent restrictions on educational institutions only hinders that process. I also believe it is important to encourage students to pursue degrees in math, science and engineering, better enabling the United States to be on the cusp of R&D. I have always supported legislation to fund science education in order to better support students in their development toward important breakthroughs.

    The most recent reauthorization for the Century Community Learning Centers program (21st CCLC) was an important benchmark for the 110th Congress. The 21st CCLC program emphasizes activities during non-school hours that offer learning opportunities for children and youth. Beginning with the program’s significant expansion in FY1998, an additional absolute priority was added for: “activities that offer expanded learning opportunities for children and youth in the community and that contribute to reduced drug use and violence.” The U.S. Department of Education conducted an evaluation of 21st CCLC after-school programs and found that elementary school students attending 21st CCLC programs felt safer than comparison group children not attending these programs; and that the parents of elementary school children attending these programs were more likely to attend school events.