Focusing on Education

Since taking office, I have visited every school district in Kansas’ Third District. What I found were teachers, parents, and administrators committed to providing an opportunity for a quality public education to every child in their communities. They have all guided me in determining my priorities for molding a federal education policy.

• MATH AND SCIENCE COMPETITIVENESS: We must take steps now to ensure that American students and workers are prepared for the careers of the future and that our nation is equipped to compete in the global economy. I support bills that better equip future generations of scientists, encourage and advance research that brings practical results, and will ensure that American workers lead the world in skill and preparedness.
• FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AS A JUNIOR PARTNER: Voters in Kansas have let me know how vitally important quality public schools are to them. Although the state and local school districts are primarily responsible for educating children in Kansas, the federal government does play the important role of a junior partner, offering additional and vital assistance to students and local school districts with extraordinary needs. Federal funds allow local school boards access to resources they otherwise would not have.
• NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND ACT (NCLBA): When Congress passed the No Child Left Behind Act, Congress and the President made a promise to our schools that they would provide resources and support to help them meet a new standard of excellence. The federal government’s refusal to fully fund NCLBA threatens to break this promise -- falling about $13.2 billion short in Fiscal Year 2006 alone and $40 billion short since the law was enacted. I am greatly concerned about these shortfalls. I held a forum discussing the impact of NCLBA on our children’s education. Parents, school administrators and teachers shared their concerns with me. I responded by proposing the Keeping our Promises to America’s Children Act, which would allow states to opt out of NCLB requirements until the federal government provides the financial assistance promised when the bill was passed.
• FULLY FUND IDEA: Congress and successive Administrations have continually failed to provide more than half of the costs of educating special needs students that was originally promised when the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) was enacted in 1975, which has shifted the costs of this law back to local taxpayers. Federal funding shortfalls combined with increased mandates are making the jobs of local school districts harder in a time when state budgets are also facing deficits. Please be assured that I will continue to fight to ensure that the federal commitment to our kids and our local school districts is met.
• HIGHER EDUCATION: The price of a college education has risen more rapidly than household income over the past two decades. Unfortunately, new laws have made it more difficult for students to afford the increasing cost of college. I will work to help make college more accessible for students and their families. We need to be making an increased investment in higher education, not cutting critical programs.
• TEACHER SHORTAGE: I support bills that forgive teachers’ student loans when they teach in a low-income school district, teach special education or teach in a designated teacher shortage area. I believe we should do all that we can to help place qualified teachers in our schools.