Issue Position: Education Reform

Issue Position

Issue Position: Education Reform

One of my priorities in Congress is to ensure that Arkansas' children receive the best education possible. While serving on the Rogers School Board, I learned that we need to take the decision-making power out of Washington and put it into the hands of officials back home. Teachers, administrators and parents are far more familiar with the needs of the students in Third District of Arkansas than the federal government can ever be. I believe it is imperative that their role in our children's education is not constrained by lawmakers in Washington.

The "No Child Left Behind Act," which was passed shortly after I entered Congress, is an important step toward true reform. The bill grants state and local school officials more flexibility, funds programs that work, expands parental options and holds schools accountable for results. And, it is working. Test scores in America's urban areas are up and they are in the Third District of Arkansas as well. I promise to work with my colleagues to build on these successes and reform federal education laws with these principles in mind. I will always seek to ensure that our laws will benefit the children of Arkansas.

Serving on any local school board will show you firsthand how hard Arkansas's teachers and administrators work. With the help of supportive communities - like those in the Third District - and empowered with more decision-making authority, these dedicated professionals create an environment in which our children learn and grow into tomorrow's leaders.

Source