Fitz-Gerald Podcast: A Champion of Public Education
Press Release
Fitz-Gerald Podcast: A Champion of Public Education
Joan Fitz-Gerald believes a strong public education system is the pathway to the American Dream. Today she delivered a podcast about her commitment to public education. The statement comes on the eve of the last public forum for 2nd Congressional District candidates to be held tonight in Summit County.
In the address, Senator Fitz-Gerald says:
Let me be clear: In Congress I would work to expand early childhood education for all children.
I have made no secret that if elected to Congress, I would not reauthorize No Child Left Behind. Here is why: I would start over with another program that is appropriately funded and restores local control to school districts. NCLB is tearing apart the seams of our classrooms because it punishes poor schools and rewards good onesfurther aggravating educational disparities. It gives a false sense of accountability. The legislation is a failure because the measures of accountability are far too punitive and it fails to recognize schools that make incremental progress.
As the president of the Colorado State Senate, I saw first-hand how NCLB robbed school districts of local control and created unfunded mandates.
If you elect me to Congress, I would bring a different approach. I believe the federal government should be a good partner with states--not just hand down penalties to underperforming schoolsthat do even further harm to those who are at the bottom of the education ladder.
I believe we must keep public money in the public school system and have fought efforts to create a voucher system in Colorado. Vouchers siphon money out of the public school system and into private and religious schools leaving our public school with less resources.
Because of my record supporting public education, I have been endorsed by teachers of the 2nd Congressional District. Together we worked for the passage of Amendment 23 and Referendum C that put more money into education.
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