Issue Position: Investing in Education

Issue Position

Issue Position: Investing in Education

Investing in Education
Continuing the proud tradition of his predecessor, Claiborne Pell, Senator Reed has championed financial aid programs for students so that more young people can afford to attend college.

In 1997, Reed led the bipartisan effort to save what is now called the Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership (LEAP) program. LEAP provides need-based grants to help students attend college. Last year, states matched approximately $65 million in federal LEAP funds with over $840 million in supplemental need-based aid, including $13 million for Rhode Island students.

Reed believes that well-trained and well-prepared teachers and principals are central to improving the academic performance of students. He recently authored the Preparing, Recruiting, and Retaining Education Professionals (PRREP) Act to improve the recruitment, training, and retention of teachers and early childhood educators.

To help more children learn to read, Senator Reed's Improving Literacy Through School Libraries program has provided over $100 million for school libraries to purchase books and computers, train librarians, and stay open longer so that more kids have access to educational opportunities.

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