Issue Position: Education

Issue Position

The quality of education provided by our public schools is a constant and growing concern. While the education of our nation's children is truly a national concern and priority, it is primarily a local and state concern. Top-down mandates from the federal government place inappropriate burdens on teachers, administrators, and -- most importantly -- students. To the extent it can be encouraged by the federal government (which has a massive role in student financial aid to schools and students), we also need to do all that we can to return to the sacred purpose of state school systems: providing quality educational opportunities to all of our citizens at an affordable price. That means driving down and controlling costs to that our schools remain affordable to all of our people --without students accruing massive debt in the process. I'm the first member of my family to earn a college degree and I fully understand the role of grants and loans as well as the need for affordable, but high-quality, educational opportunities to all of our citizens.

As a state legislator, I supported school choice, home schooling, and the establishment of charter schools. I was also a strong advocate for merit pay for our best teachers. Giving parents more control and placing less of an emphasis on test results and more of an emphasis on actual learning in the classroom remain my priorities.

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