EDUCATION
This country has led the world in education at all levels. However, our public schools and colleges have fallen behind in terms of achievement and affordability. Education and training are the best ways to make sure our children stay above the poverty line and out of the criminal justice system. We also know that children who have access to pre-K are more likely to finish school. The positive effects on our society are immeasurable. Without access to quality education and training, families continue to lose the ability to choose their futures, and the nation struggles to remain competitive with the rest of the world. Should our children choose to attend a training program, school, or college after high school, I would support that all public colleges, technical schools, and training programs are free. We once decided that a high school education should be guaranteed – times have changed and we need to reform our system to reflect the options for education and training beyond high school. I would also support that the federal government guarantee interest free loans to those who choose to go on to any higher education. The dividends the country receives from these degrees are more than enough to justify the cost of the loans. Finally, for existing student loans, I would support initiatives that help borrowers to renegotiate interest rates to zero and expand current loan forgiveness programs such as the public service loan forgiveness program. To complement the approach to loans, an expansion of our national service programs would help recent graduates work with our communities and both be a benefit to those graduates as well as to our country.
MY PRIORITIES:
Access to free public college, technical schools, and training programs
Direct investments in public schools to increase resources and the ability to hire teachers who are paid a fair salary
Universal pre-K in all communities
Reform the loan program for higher education and renegotiate existing student debt to eliminate interest payments
Expand national service and loan forgiveness programs to help eliminate student debt and bring new opportunities to communities and graduates
Tie federal grant and research money to programs at schools that help drive down or eliminate the costs to students