Issue Position: Education & Opportunity

Issue Position

K-12
I believe that a quality education is the key to success. That's why as both an attorney and a state legislator, I fought for quality public education for all students, working to reduce class sizes, raise teacher pay, and increase investment in early childhood education. The federal government plays an important role to ensure that all students have access to a high-quality public education. While states may fund public education at various levels, the federal government provides critical funding to low-income schools to ensure that not only wealthy students receive a high-quality public education, but especially Title I schools and students served by the Free and Reduced Lunch program. The federal government must do more, however. Whether encouraging states to provide greater education appropriations through increased matching grants or through direct funding, an investment in our students is an investment in our future.

In Congress, I'll prioritize investing in teachers and the classroom, ensuring funding for school infrastructure and technology. We must make sure every child has the opportunity to succeed.

College Affordability
Many North Carolinians are faced with crippling student loan debt just as they are entering the workforce. We live in a global and changing economy and North Carolinians need the skills to compete so we can continue to move our economy forward. That's why I fought for and won changes to our tax code that made it easier for families to save for college when I was a state legislator.

In Congress, I'll prioritize common-sense proposals to address college affordability, including an increase to the maximum Pell Grant award, providing access for graduate and professional students to access subsidized loans, placing a cap on collection fees charged to borrowers who have defaulted on their loans, and loan forgiveness. I also will fight against lenders and institutions who make false promises and defraud our students.

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