Issue Position: Education

Issue Position

Strong Support for Public Schools

Rep. Israel has a record of standing up for our public schools. He doesn't believe in short-changing our children's education or forcing local governments to pick up the tab for unfunded mandates, which causes Rep. Israel Visits a LI Schoolthem to raise property taxes to make up the difference. That's why Rep. Israel has supported legislation to help keep teachers on the job and opposed efforts to reduce federal support for local schools.

Grow Your Own Teacher

Rep. Israel is the author of legislation to help improve schools in low-income and minority areas. In the 111th Congress (2009-2010), he introduced the Grow Your Own Teacher Act and plans to do so again during the 112th Congress (2011-2012).

Rep. Israel's legislation will create pathways to teaching careers for low-income or minority students and role models for their students. Here's how it works:

* Grow Your Own Teacher grants are awarded to partnerships of high schools and colleges.
* High schools with a large low-income student population and a significant disparity in student-teacher racial composition will identify and recruit students to receive college preparatory support and attend college.
* The college certifies the student in teaching, and the student, after graduating college and participating in a one year mentoring program with a veteran teacher, returns to the high school from which he or she graduated as a teacher.
* If he or she teaches in the school for five years, the Grow Your Own Teacher grant will be used to completely forgive the student loan debt of the teacher.

This program will put at-risk students on a path towards a teaching career in schools where they are needed most, and create much needed role models for their students. With Rep. Israel's help, a Grow Your Own Teacher pilot program is currently underway on Long Island.

Greening Our Schools

Rep. Israel has long advocated for "greening" our schools in order to improve efficiency and reduce energy costs. In 2008, Rep. Israel and National Grid surveyed local schools about their energy efficiency. The survey found:

* Only one school district is using some form of alternative energy
* Only 16% of school districts are using the most efficient forms of fluorescent lighting
* 45% of the water heaters are more than 30 years old
* Twelve districts are planning to renovate or build new buildings

In 2009, Rep. Israel voted for and the House passed the 21st Century Green High-Performing Public School Facilities Act, which would authorize investments to modernize, upgrade and repair school facilities. If signed into law, this bill would provide $6.4 billion in year one to our nation's schools for renovation, and repair. I believe that by greening our schools we can make a significant impact on the lives of students and teachers while lowering operational costs and helping the environment. Unfortunately, this legislation was not passed in the U.S. Senate.

You can find more information through the National Clearinghouse for Educational Facilities (NCEF), which has created a comprehensive website that tracks funding opportunities, data, research, and useful information related to green schools. NCEF is a program managed by the National Institute of Building Sciences, with support from the U.S. Department of Education.

College Affordability

Rep. Israel has been a leading voice in Congress on the issue of college affordability, introducing legislation to create a single super-sized tax credit to help off-set the costs of college and supporting legislation to make it easier to finance education. For more on college affordability, click here.

Strong Ties With Long Island Schools

Rep. Israel knows that local schools understand local needs best. If you would like him to visit your school, please contact our Long Island office at 631-951-2210

Updated July 26, 2011

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