| Education |
 |
 |
|
America's students represent our nation's future, and they deserve the best education possible to ensure that future is a bright one. New Hampshire is a state that prides itself on keeping the control and oversight of public education localized to the state and district level. By limiting federal involvement, school districts can exercise the flexibility and direct the resources to where local administrators see the greatest need. I support several measures to help students who need it most while ensuring our students can remain competitive in a global economy: • Funding for Special Education: I have long supported increasing funding for special education grants to states under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). When Congress passed the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act over 35 years ago, it established requirements that all students, even those with special needs, received a free, appropriate public education. The federal government also made a promise to states to help pay for the extra costs associated with these new requirements. Unfortunately, the federal government has never lived up to that promise, and states and local communities in New Hampshire and across the country have been left with nothing but an unfunded mandate they simply can't afford. Last year, I supported a fully-offset amendment to the Continuing Resolution that restored funding for IDEA so that struggling states are left footing the bill from the federal government and will continue to support ways by which the government can live up to its commitment to our nation's children. • Elementary and Secondary Education Act: The Elementary and Secondary Education Act, federal legislation also known as No Child Left Behind, is due for reauthorization in 2012. This is a large and all-encompassing bill, and it is my hope that as Congress looks at reauthorization we can come to a bipartisan agreement on how to shape our public education system in a way that best benefits New Hampshire and our nation's children. In order to achieve this goal, I believe it is critical to listen to the advice of our educators, parents, and other stakeholders who know firsthand what works best in the classroom and where there are areas for improvement. We need to have an education system that works for all students regardless of whether they come from urban or rural areas, require extra attention due to special needs, or come from difficult economic circumstances. • Science, Technology, Engineering & Math Education: It's important that our students are able to remain competitive in this ever-growing global economy, and as more emphasis is placed on science and technology, I am committed to providing our nation's students with the tools they need to stay competitive. This is why I have introduced a bill (H.R. 2253) that would award competitive matching grants to local education agencies (LEAs) in order to promote science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) in secondary schools. Additionally, this would support the participation of secondary school students in nonprofit robotics or STEM competitions, and broaden secondary school students' access to STEM careers. • Higher Education: New Hampshire boasts a strong and tightly-networked college and university system that includes large public universities, career and technical colleges, and small private colleges, as well as a strong community college system. Students come from across the country and the world to receive the top-notch college education found across the state and Second District. I am committed to ensuring that all students are able to access these opportunities and will continue to support federal scholarship grant programs.
|
