Issues | Education

As the father of two school-aged sons, I respect the importance of pursuing excellence in education. I believe competition, local decision-making control, and an unwavering dedication to putting students first are at the heart of a first-rate educational system.

Unfortunately, during the last 50 years, our country has increasingly neglected the very principles that made our nation a world leader in education. In 1965, Congress passed the Elementary and Secondary Education (ESEA) Act, effectively beginning federal funding of education in the United States. Since then, we have seen a top-down, bureaucratic education system emerge that prevents us from providing the students of the greatest country in the world with the best education in the world. Despite repeated attempts to spend our way out of this problem, test scores have continued to trend downward, leaving many falling further and further behind.

 I support increased competition and choice in our educational system. Providing education options empowers parents and is a natural catalyst for improvement and innovation in our nation’s schools. Additionally, I strictly support maintaining local control of education and believe decisions that affect communities should be made by the communities themselves. Finally, I believe that education policy should have the goal of student success as its foundation and nothing else. Schools are built for students, not for the benefit of outside organizations.

Several outstanding colleges and universities call the 3rd District home. Many of these schools continue to grow in enrollment and continue to increase their academic recognition in the region and across the country. If we are to develop 21st Century minds to take on 21st Century challenges, we need to support these institutions.

To that end, Congress should provide states with necessary resources and, in turn, provide localities with decision-making authority so our nation’s schools and teachers can better educate America’s next generations.