Issue Position: Education

Issue Position

No Child Left Behind
There are many changes that need to be made to the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB).

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce recently graded States on their education systems and Arizona received a D in academic achievement and an F in post-secondary and workforce readiness.

Arizona has the second highest student to teacher ratio in the country and is second to last in per pupil expenditure. These low grades are a sober reminder that we must raise student achievement, close achievement gaps and ensure that every child is taught by highly-qualified teachers. But these goals will only be realized if the benchmarks and accountability process are meaningful and practical.

NCLB is drastically under-funded and schools are being asked to meet many new requirements without the support they need to be successful. If we are going to continue to demand that our teachers and schools meet these new standards we must provide the necessary resources, mentoring and professional development they need.

Furthermore, NCLB does not focus on the skills that students must have in a 21st century economy. In order to compete in a global welfare, our school children must be proficient in computer technology and critical thinking. Math and science studies are more also important than ever as our society faces challenges like global warming and the need for renewable energy.

It has been my focus to gather input from teachers, administrators, parents and business leaders in Southern Arizona at educational summits that I held in Tucson and Sierra Vista. More than 300 citizens showed up to share their views about the major problems with how we assess children, especially our English language learners and special education students, and teachers have told me about the constant pressure to "teach to the test."

The bottom line is that the state of our education must be improved, irrespective of what happens with No Child Left Behind. We live in a world where our children have to compete with children all over the world, and we must strive for excellence, not mediocrity.

STEM Education
As a member of the Science and Technology Committee, I am proud that Congress has taken action to meet the challenges of competing in the 21st century economy by adopting a comprehensive innovation package - the America COMPETES Act.

This law lays the ground work for building the workforce America will need to stay on the cutting edge of technology. The America COMPETES Act authorizes 33.6 billion dollars over fiscal years 2008 through 2010 for science, technology, engineering and math or "STEM" education and research programs across the federal government.

This will put the federal government on track to double its annual investment in basic science research over the next ten years. If you are interested in learning more about STEM education, I recommend the book, "Rising Above the Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future."

Student Loans
I believe that making college affordable and accessible to America's students is one of the best investments we can make for our future. All American students must have access to a world class education, regardless of their financial circumstances or where they live.

Congress has been busy passing landmark legislation to make college more accessible and affordable for all Americans. In today's global economy, a college education has become essential to achieving the American Dream. However, the rising cost of college is moving that dream out of reach for many.

I am proud that my fifth vote as your U.S. Congresswoman was for the College Student Relief Act. That legislation would cut interest rates on need-based federal student loans for undergraduate students from 6.8% to 3.4% over five years, giving 21,568 students in Southern Arizona a better start after they finish their education. This change will benefit nearly 5.5 million undergraduate students and their families nationwide.

Also, in September 2007, President Bush signed the College Cost Reduction and Access Act into law. It resulted in the largest increase in college aid since the GI Bill in 1944, and will boost college aid by more than $20 billion dollars over the next five years. Almost one year later, President Bush signed the Higher Education Opportunity Act, legislation that overhauled our nation's higher education laws, advancing key reforms that address the soaring price of college and remove other obstacles that make it harder for qualified students to go to college.

In the 111th Congress, provisions to increase access to college were included in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. This landmark legislation made over 75,000 Arizona families eligible for a new $2,500 college tax credit and expanded Pell grants and the college work-study program.

With today's economy squeezing families and tuition prices continuing to soar, I am proud that Congress has made college affordability a top priority. We live in a world where the educated get ahead and the undereducated are left behind. The bottom line is that we must continually strive to improve the quality and accessibility of education in America, at all levels and for all students.

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