Education
Whether through career and technical education or the inclusion of the arts in STEM education, I am an advocate for innovative approaches to teaching our nation's children.
Our public education system is one of the foundations of our democracy. Investing in our children’s education not only has long-term benefits for our economy, but it also delivers on our nation’s promise that all individuals have an equal opportunity to succeed. I am deeply committed to improving our nation’s schools so that all children, regardless of the neighborhood in which they grow up, have the chance to achieve their full potential. It is imperative that we invest in education to promote new employment and ensure that students can adapt to the jobs that will grow our 21st century economy.
I believe we must invest in our students at every level, from early childhood education to postsecondary education. I support Rhode Island’s efforts to become a leader in preK-12 education, and I am proud that Rhode Island won a $2.3 million federal grant to expand enrollment in high-quality pre-K programs. In late 2015, Congress reauthorized the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, via the Every Student Succeeds Act. As we move through implementation, I will work to ensure there is flexibility at the local level, a focus on rewarding schools instead of punishing them, and encouraging great leadership from both administrators and teachers. Finally, as the cost of higher education has soared in recent years, I continue my strong support of policies and programs, like Pell Grants, to ensure that all Americans, regardless of their background or economic status, have access to higher education.
In addition, I am working on initiatives in both Washington and Rhode Island to revamp our education system for the 21st Century.
Career and Technical Education
As a co-chair of the Congressional Career and Technical Education (CTE) Caucus with my colleague, Representative Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson (R-PA), I am working in Rhode Island and at the national level to highlight the importance of career and technical education in creating jobs, retraining workers, and ensuring that students of all ages are career- and college-ready. CTE programs play a vital role in developing skilled workers who are capable of remaining competitive in high-wage, high-skill, and high-demand career fields. These fields include STEM disciplines, nursing, allied health, construction, information technology, energy, cybersecurity, sustainability, and other areas that keep our nation competitive in the global economy.
In September 2016, I was proud to help champion House passage of H.R. 5587, the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act, which would reauthorize and modernize the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act through 2022. This bill makes several important changes to our nation’s career and technical education: requiring states to offer high-quality CTE for all students, integrating employability skills into career pathways, and increasing funding for innovative and evidence-based CTE programs. I am particularly proud of the emphasis the bill places on both work-based learning and the role of school counselors in career exploration.
In addition to reauthorizing Perkins, Congressman Thompson and I annually lead the fight for strong Perkins funding. This year, we were pleased to be joined by a bipartisan group of 116 of our fellow representatives on a letter to the House Appropriations Committee requesting $1.131 billion in funding for fiscal year 2017. CTE programs will only be successful if we ensure they are fully-funded and able to meet growing demand.
To help match workers with the skills they need, I have also reintroduced the Counseling for Career Choice Act.This bipartisan bill would provide funds to help local educational agencies offer comprehensive counseling services to students so that they can make informed decisions about their future, whether they choose a four-year degree, a career and technical education program, a private-sector apprenticeship or another option.
Student Loans
Student loan debt is becoming an ever-increasing burden on our students, graduates and their families. On July 1, 2013, the interest rate for federal student loans doubled from 3.4% to 6.8% with the expiration of the previously-extended College Cost Reduction Act. That same month, Congress passed a compromise to tie student loan interest rates to the 10-year Treasury Note, plus 2.05% for undergraduate loans, 3.6% for graduate loans, and 4.6% for Parent PLUS loans. These loans are capped at 8.25%, 9.5% and 10.5%, respectively. I am also pleased that the bill required a study to determine the overall cost of the student loan program - although the results are sobering. Due to the variability of the federal interest rate, it is impossible to predict whether or not the program will be revenue neutral in the coming years. I will continue to monitor student loan rates and work with my colleagues to ensure the government does not profit off of college students.
STEM to STEAM
Art and design programs are an essential component of a well-rounded curriculum and play an integral role in improving student achievement and advancing the understanding of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Along with the Rhode Island School of Design, I hosted STEM to STEAM briefings in Rhode Island and Washington, D.C. to discuss the importance of integrating art and design into our country’s education system and efforts to maintain global leadership in technological innovation. I also introduced H.Res. 247, a resolution that encourages federal agencies to facilitate a comprehensive approach to incorporate art and design into federal STEM programs. I am very proud that the Every Student Succeeds Act recognized the importance of Art and Design in shaping a well-rounded education. It specifically notes the ways that STEM is complemented by STEAM, and offers federal funding to blend the two into the overall curriculum. For more information on this initiative, please visit www.stemtosteam.org.
Funding STEM Programs
I am always looking for new ways to increase student involvement in this exciting field. In 2014, I was proud to help host the inaugural season of the House STEM Competition. With an estimated 8.5 million STEM jobs projected by 2018, it is vital to build enthusiasm and competence in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.
The recently-passed Every Student Succeeds Act made several important investments in STEM education and educators. The law establishes a “STEM master teacher corps” to attract and retain outstanding teachers in the STEM disciplines. It also creates STEM specialty schools, to foster and grow student interest in science, technology, engineering, math, computer science, and many other fields.
I have also sponsored the Stepping UP to STEM Act. This legislation establishes an Office of STEM Education within the Department of Education while providing grant funding to outside entities to develop additional education technology innovations. The jobs of the coming decades – whether in healthcare, manufacturing, small business or any other field – will require a working knowledge of the STEM disciplines. Even if a four-year college is not in a student’s plan, excellence in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics courses will better prepare him or her for the job market.
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