|
EDUCATION
A sound public education system is the cornerstone for a strong, modern society, and our children deserve the very best we can provide in order to secure their successful future. The world is changing before our eyes, and the demands of an increasingly globalized economy are higher than ever before, with new competition coming from China and India. Our students must have the tools to be innovative and competitive if we want our economy to remain the strongest in the world.
I believe that we can meet and exceed these demands, but we need to continually renew our commitment to education. We must set high standards for our schools while giving teachers and students the resources necessary to meet them. We must increase rigor in our science and math curriculum so that students are prepared for a 21st century economy. Finally, we must ensure that every student is prepared to learn on the first day of Kindergarten and ready to go to college if they so choose.
These are considerable goals to set for our country, and meeting them will require policies that work at the local, state and federal levels.
No Child Left Behind
In 2001, I voted for the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act because I felt it was an important bipartisan step toward the establishment of higher academic standards and accountability. Unfortunately, I believe it must be acknowledged that NCLB has fallen short of our expectations. Since passage of the law, I have visited every high school and many elementary schools in the 2nd Congressional district and remain convinced that by demanding excellence in our education policies we can set the stage for students to achieve it. Despite its shortcomings—including pathetically inadequate funding and poor implementation—the underlying focus of NCLB still has a place in the American education system. Our task now is to continue scrutinizing its implementation and ensure that teachers and students have the resources to achieve its demands.
In the 110th Congress, I introduced the CLASS Act (HR 2070) to help achieve these goals. In addition to creating a more accurate measurement for student achievement, my bill would allow schools to better target groups with higher needs by offering transfer opportunities and supplemental resources to those groups alone instead of entire age groups. This bill also enables schools to consider a broader range of factors for determining the progress of students with disabilities (the current system relies upon a standardized test). By addressing these inadequacies in NCLB and listening to our teachers, students, parents, and administrators we can continue raising standards and giving our schools the tools to meet them.
Science, Technology, Engineering, & Math Education
It is imperative that we give our children the best chance to succeed in an ever-changing global economy. If the recent past is any indication, the future belongs to technological innovation and scientific discovery. A nation that invests in educating its students in the hard sciences and mathematics will see a return in economic prosperity and global leadership. Energy conservation, information systems, medical technology, aerospace and biological research are just a few of the cutting-edge areas where we will need more students and leaders.
As co-chair of the House Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Education Caucus, I have worked to see that we increase the emphasis and focus on science education programs. In the 110th Congress,
I cosponsored and helped enact the bipartisan America COMPETES Act, which will help educate thousands of new teachers, provide current teachers with relevant expertise in their area of teaching, and expand programs to enhance the undergraduate education of the future science and engineering workforce. I served on the House-Senate conference committee that crafted this final version of the legislation. In my capacity as co-chair of the STEM Education Caucus and chairman of the Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee of the House Committee on Science and Technology, I have pushed for greater emphasis on science and math education.
Early Childhood Education
Lower-income children in America are not keeping pace with their peers who come from more advantaged families. Studies have shown that this is largely due to the fact that many of these children come to school ill-prepared to learn. The years from birth to eight-years old are critical in a child’s cognitive and social development, and our investment in education should emphasize these formative years. High-quality, comprehensive early-childhood programs like Head Start have been proven to help with cognitive development, socialization and long term performance. Head Start has served low-income children and their families since 1965 and currently serves over 900,000 children and families annually. I will continue to work to fully fund Head Start and support early childhood programs.
Higher Education
With one child in college, another on the way, and a major institution of higher education in my district, I understand the difficulties facing our higher education system today. The College Board reported in 2006 that costs for tuition and fees have increased by 35% over the last five years, while total federal grant aid is not even keeping up with inflation. If these trends continue, we will be placing an untenable strain on American families with college-aged students.
I believe that a college education should not only be a choice for those who can afford it; it should be available for all who want to go and have the talent to do well. We have a lot of work to do before we can reach this goal, however, and I am proud to have been a part of efforts in Congress to support student aid. In the 110 Congree, I supported the College Cost Reduction and Access Act, which makes student loans more affordable and practical for students. This President signed this legislation into law on September 27th, 2007. Most recently, I supported the Ensuring Continued Access to Student Loans Act of 2008, which would provide new protections to ensure that families can continue to access needed loans to pay for college in these difficult economic times. This bill became law on May 7, 2008. I also support increasing the funding and availability of Pell Grants and other scholarship programs.
We have a lot of work to do before we can ensure that the opportunity of a college education becomes a reality for all Americans, and I look forward to continuing my work in the Congress toward this important goal.
Click here for more information and lesson plans on Science and Math Education.
|