Investing in Our Children’s Education
Our children are our greatest resource, and the future of our nation depends on an education system that provides them with the tools to succeed in a global economy. Providing a first-rate education for America's children is certainly one of the most important responsibilities of parents and guardians, local school districts, individual states, and, to an appropriate degree, the federal government. Adequate federal funding is required to ensure that public schools can provide an excellent education to every child who enters their doors. I am fully committed to achieving appropriate education funding levels and to ensuring that our education system continues to be an effective tool in preparing our children and our nation for the future.
Early Childhood Education:
I believe that investing in early childhood education is critical to child development. Programs like Head Start provide child development services and prepare children for success when they enter school. As an advocate for early childhood education, I will continue working to ensure that all children are ready to succeed in school.
No Child Left Behind Act:
The No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) provided reforms and resources to enhance accountability in public education. I support the objectives of NCLB which helped create more accountability and transparency in education, but I have heard and listened to the frustrations states, local school districts, teachers and parents have with NCLB, and I sympathize with these concerns.
It is important that we reevaluate those parts of NCLB that have caused undue hardship on students and educators, especially those in rural school districts. As Congress considers reauthorization of NCLB, I am working with teachers, administrators, and state and local leaders, as well as my colleagues in the House of Representatives, to make important policy revisions to provide additional resources and flexibility to states and school districts.
The Cost of Higher Education:
Higher education is an important component of success in today’s economy and a valuable end in itself. Yet the skyrocketing costs of college tuition create serious hardships for most students seeking a college education. With college costs on the rise, more students have to take out greater loans to cover their tuition and college costs, forcing them to graduate deeply in debt.
I believe cost should never stand in the way of a student who wants to go to college, and I am committed to improving educational access for every Idaho student who would like to further his or her education. I have supported a number of efforts to ease the financial burden on young people entering the workforce, establishing careers, and starting families. In addition, I have strongly supported important college access programs, like the TRIO programs, which help improve access for first-generation college students, and career and technical education programs, which prepare students for diverse careers ranging from nursing to computer engineering.
