Issue Position: How Do You Propose to Improve the Quality and Availability of Education?

Issue Position

Education should be the great equalizer. But the Bush Administration's misguided education policy - No Child Left Behind - has warped the way we teach our children. When it comes to Congress for review in 2007, I will fight to ensure that its overemphasis on testing and labeling schools as failing are replaced with a focus on placing a qualified, caring, and competent teacher in every classroom.

I believe in life long learning - "P through L" - Pre-kindergarten through life. As Lt. Governor of Hawai`i, I led the Pre-Plus program, obtaining $5 million from the legislature to build preschool classrooms on elementary school campuses around the state (12 pre-schools so far). This program could be a model for a national pre-school education program.

At the other end of the public education cycle, we must increase funding for Pell Grants so that college is a real possibility for all who want to attend. I will make it a priority to expand early childhood education, college that is affordable, and job training that gives everyone a chance to earn a living and compete in our global economy.

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