Education
An investment in our children's education is an investment in our country's future. The importance of providing our children the best possible education cannot be overstated, especially as so many Americans battle economic hardship. That’s why I have made modernizing and improving our school system a top priority during my time in Congress.
I was proud to support the bipartisan reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, which fixes the broken “No Child Left Behind” law and provides vital federal funding to states and local school districts to help improve K-12 education around the country. Included in the final bill was my bipartisan amendment to prevent the removal of important standards for classroom paraprofessionals and ensure that our students are being taught by qualified individuals, was included in the final bill. As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, I have worked to increase funding for Preschool Development Grants, Head Start, and other education programs. I have supported policies that would make it easier for students to attend college by fighting for an extension of the Perkins Loan Program, which offers low-interest federal loans for undergraduate and graduate students with exceptional financial need. Finally, as founder and co-chair of the bipartisan International Basic Education Caucus, I have worked to increase international basic education programs and boost understanding of global education challenges.
Affordable and accessible education is one of the most important issues facing our country. I will continue fighting in Congress to develop innovative and pragmatic policies that support our teachers and ensure all children have fair and equal access to a high quality education.
As a champion of STEM education, Rep. Quigley announced Ava Hollis, a freshman at York High School, as the winner of the Congressional App Challenge for Illinois’ Fifth Congressional District.
Rep. Quigley launched the bipartisan International Basic Education Caucus to boost support in Congress for international basic education programs and increase understanding of global education challenges.
Rep. Quigley supported passage of the bipartisan reauthorization bill for the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.
More on Education
WASHINGTON – Yesterday, U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05), joined five House and Senate Democrats in releasing a disturbing new report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) that found only 43 percent of school districts nationwide tested for lead in their schools’ drinking water in 2016 and 2017, and of those that tested, 37 percent found elevated lead levels. GAO found that 41 percent of school districts did not test for lead, while 16 percent did not know.