Education
I am deeply concerned by the deterioration of our nation’s public school system. Many of our children receive low-quality education that undermines their potential and threatens our society. I believe our policies should enable parents and local school districts to choose school programs and curriculum that best fit students’ needs.
The federal government’s well-intentioned efforts to regulate our nation’s public schools have contributed to problems within our educational system. Our great country is too large and too diverse for a one-size-fits-all approach to education. We must limit the role of the federal government in our classrooms to allow parents and teachers to act in students’ best interest. I also believe we should distribute federal spending in block grants with few or no strings attached.
We can also give parents and students more freedom in their educational choices by allowing alternatives—such as school vouchers, charter schools, on-line education, home schooling, and education savings accounts. A refundable tax credit, equal to the cost of educating a child in a public school, should be given to parents who opt for these alternative programs that cost nothing to the public school system. The increased competition with public schools would also incentivize progress and improvement. I oppose any attempts by unions to limit education choices through unfair regulations.