Overview

We must improve and strengthen our public education system in the United States so that it is second to none, and consider education as our primary means to achieve equality of opportunity in this country--equality of opportunity not just as an aspiration, but in fact.


K-12 Education and No Child Left Behind (NCLB)

Every child is entitled to a high quality, public education. This principle is so deeply held in Wisconsin that it is written into our state’s constitution. I believe that principle must be applied to all children in America. While this objective has yet to be reached, it is absolutely essential that the federal government be a partner with state and local government to provide the resources necessary to make it a reality.

In 2001, Congress passed the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act to improve standards, hold schools accountable for performance and provide additional resources. In many ways, NCLB is a positive step forward. However, there are significant problems that need to be addressed. I support legislation to make testing requirements more rational. In addition, I support full funding of the legislation. No Child Left Behind has been under-funded throughout its five-year authorization, to the aggregate of billions of dollars. The goals of the law and our country will never be achieved without the promised funding.

Although the five-year authorization of NCLB expires September 30, 2008, it is unlikely to be reauthorized before that date. While I would like these education programs to be reauthorized in a timely manner, I would prefer them to be reauthorized thoughtfully and appropriately, taking into account the voices of all stakeholders, including parents, teachers, administrators, and most importantly, students.


Higher Education and the Higher Education Act (HEA)

Access to affordable and quality higher education is essential if America is to retain its competitive advantage in a global economy. The first reauthorization of the Higher Education Act (HEA) in over a decade was a much-needed and long overdue first step towards realigning our nation’s higher education programs with that ever-changing global economy. It preserved many well-known and widely-used federal grant and loan programs – Pell, Perkins, LEAP, SEOG – and increased loan limits for those eligible for federal programs. Many of the changes to the law affect the administration of higher education, meaning that students will have greater access to affordable education that will be operating under greater accountability to the federal government for price increases, safety regulations, and student information privacy.

This legislation built on the earlier successes that cut loan interest rates in half, and ensured continued access to student loans despite the housing credit crunch. This is a welcome return to thoughtful federal education policy after years of Congress cutting billions of dollars from federal student aid programs to pay for special tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans. Students and families deserved more from federal education policy, which is why I was proud to vote for these proposals, ensuring greater investment and expanded affordability and access to higher education for all.

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