Issue Position: Ensuring Quality Education

Issue Position

A quality education system is the key to a strong America tomorrow, from excellence in our K-12 systems to our world-renowned colleges and universities. As the son of two educators, I understand just how important education is for the future of our great nation, but I also see that standards are slipping and America is falling behind.

I've been an advocate for education in my tenure in the state senate. I advocated for a dedicated revenue stream for public education. I helped write bipartisan budgets that supported education funding, and I helped to secure funding for a new Medical Center at Washington State University -- Spokane.

To get our education system back up to the top, we need serious changes that start with government.

1. Make real reforms that benefit students over unions. Performance-based pay for teachers, and school choice by the integration of Public Charter Schools.

2. Refine the focus of education based on the needs of the work force. We need more programs that focus on the jobs that grow our economy -- engineering, computer science, and mathematics.

3. Expand access to community colleges and trade schools. Our increasingly knowledge-based economy requires a highly skilled workforce.

4. Control spiraling tuition costs. Students preparing for their future shouldn't walk away with massive debts on their backs.

5. Keep our universities attractive to international students. Our education system and our economy benefits when we attract the brightest students from around the world.

Maria Cantwell has consistently gone on record as being against more choices for students, and has little to show for making meaningful education reform during the past twelve years.

Cantwell can't make schools work better for our students. Together, you and I will.

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