Education

Congresswoman McCarthy serves on the Committee on Education and the Workforce where she works to provide educational opportunities for all Americans and make sure that children have a safe, healthy learning environment.  Congresswoman McCarthy is currently the Ranking Member of the Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education Subcommittee and also serves on the Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Training. 

Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education

This Congress, Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy was elected Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education (ECESE) that has jurisdiction over matters related to education from early learning through the high school level.

H.R. 5005, the Ending Corporal Punishment in Schools Act

Congresswoman McCarthy believes that children must be treated with dignity and respect in the classroom. Data from the Department of Education shows that African-American children and children with disabilities are corporally punished at disproportionately higher rates than the general student population. Corporal punishment has led to serious health and psychological injury among students. In June 2014, Congresswoman McCarthy reintroduced the Ending Corporal Punishment in Schools Act. First introduced in 2010, this legislation seeks to eliminate the use of corporal punishment in schools by withholding federal education funds and programs to the 19 remaining States that still allow this practice. The bill authorizes the Department of Education to award grants to help States implement safe, effective, evidence-based strategies to end corporal punishment and promote a positive school culture and climate. The legislation would not affect private schools that do not receive public funding or home school programs. 

Student-to-School Nurse Ratio Improvement Act of 2013

Congresswoman McCarthy introduced the Student-to-School Nurse Ratio Improvement Act on May 7^th 2013.  The Act would provide competitive demonstration grants through the U.S. Department of Education (ED) to eligible local educational agencies to lower the ratio of students to school nurses, using a formula-based approach and taking into consideration acuity level.  Additionally, the bill would require ED to report to Congress on the efficacy of the piloted grant program regarding the relationship between access to student health services and academic outcomes.

Teachers at the Table Act

Congresswoman McCarthy firmly believes that government should embrace the voices of our nation’s teachers, especially when debating potential policy changes in the educational sector.  The Congresswoman introduced the Teachers at the Table Act on July 19^th 2013.  The Act would establish and advisory committee, to be known as the Volunteer Teacher Advisory Committee to monitor the effects of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act in classrooms.

Providing Resources Early For Kids (PRE-K) Act

Congresswoman McCarthy knows and appreciates that early learning opportunities are pivotal to the intellectual growth of our youth.  As such, Congresswoman McCarthy introduced the PRE-K Act on March 11^th 2013.  The Act would provide grants to states to enhance or improve the quality of their pre-school programs.

Family Engagement in Education Act of 2013

Family engagement in the educational process of children has proven to be especially important to success and retention of study.  Congresswoman McCarthy and Rep. Glenn Thompson introduced the Family Engagement in Education Act on July 11^th 2013.  The Act would build the capacity of families, schools and local and state educational agencies to achieve effective partnerships necessary for improved student outcomes and school climate.

H.R. 5, the Student Success Act (Reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA))

On July 19^th the House passed H.R. 5, the Student Success Act.  The partisan legislation is a flawed bill that is, first and foremost, severely underfunded.  Further flaws include, but are not limited to, a lack of meaningful assessment system for students, a lack of accountability that students will be served equitably, the absence of a requirement that ensures that states and districts maintain their share of funding to receive federal dollars and the elimination of wrap-around programs.

Congresswoman McCarthy supported a Democratic substitute amendment in Committee that is a more complete bill that builds on the consensus that our nation’s schools must prepare all students to be college and career ready across multiple disciplines including English language, arts, math and science.  Among its many provisions, the amendment provides for appropriate funding levels for education, preserves dedicated funding streams for programs and protects civil rights responsibilities to students to ensure equal educational opportunities.  She had several provisions included in the substitute amendment including:

·        Increased teacher input in school improvement plans and school programs and schedules.

·        Improved measures of family engagement in schools.

·        Improved requirements related to school safety plans.

·        Improved access to resources for school nurses.

·        And, improved access to resources for those students displaced from their homes as a result of a natural disaster.

HR 1911, the Bipartisan Student Loan Certainty Act of 2013

Unlike the proposals floated earlier this Congress by the House majority, this bill offers students and families a reasonable way to finance higher education.  As opposed to rates that fluctuate throughout the life of the loan, H.R. 1911 allows for a variable rate for new borrowers that adjusts yearly but is fixed for the life of the loan once borrowed.  Further, the bill offers lower interest rates for undergraduate borrowers of subsidized and unsubsidized Stafford loans by pairing them to the 10yr Treasury (T) bill + 2.05% as opposed to the 10yr T bill +2.5% in the original House majority proposal.  Lastly, the bill offers interest rate caps for borrowers to ensure that interest rates do not soar to undesirable levels in the years to come.

While this bill represents a significant improvement for students, Congresswoman McCarthy does have reservations that the undergraduate interest rate cap, currently set at 8.25%, is too high.  While it is widely believed that students will enjoy low rates in the short-term, there is a strong possibility that rates will skyrocket as our national economy improves. She believes that, for undergraduates, a lower cap should be considered.

Serve America Act

Congresswoman McCarthy authored and had signed into law the Serve America Act.  The bill was signed into law by President Barack Obama on April 21^st 2009.  The law reauthorizes and expands national service programs including the AmeriCorps program.

Civil Rights History Project Act of 2009

Congresswoman McCarthy authored and had signed into law the Civil Rights History Project Act of 2009.  The bill was signed into law by President Barack Obama on May 12^th 2009.  The law directs the Library of Congress and the Smithsonian Institution to conduct a survey of existing oral history collections with relevance to the Civil Rights Movement and to record new interviews with people who participated in the Movement.  These interviews are to be made available worldwide through the project website and its contents are permanent pieces of the national library and museum.