Issue Position: Education

Issue Position

After budget cuts, North Carolina now ranks 42nd in the nation in education spending.

I am a fervent supporter of early childhood and higher education, for my son -- a middle school student in the Lincoln County Public School System -- and for the children of all families.

To guarantee that North Carolina remains a competitive workplace, we must follow the law of our state constitution, which requires -- requires -- the state to provide adequate funding and services to ensure that all students receive the opportunity for a sound, basic education.

I will fight to restore funding for early childhood and higher education. As a result of budget cuts, entire elementary schools can no longer hire assistant principals, guidance counselors, or teaching assistants. Programs to help struggling students and to address the risk factors that increase the likelihood that students will drop out have lost critical funding. Financial aid to qualified N.C. college students was slashed, meaning that many college students must abandon their higher education plans -- some with only a semester or two remaining.

I will work to ensure that all schools protect our children from bullying and harassment.

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