OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

Issue Position: Education

Issue Position

Date: Jan. 1, 2016
Location: Nevada
Issues: Higher Education K-12 Education Federal, State and Local Relations

An educated citizenry is important to maintaining a strong democracy and a vibrant economy. A good education develops critical thinking skills, causing individuals to make sense of the complex world around them, as well as making good decisions for themselves and their families. Strong educational foundations allow individuals to build upon and develop new skills that can eventually transform into better economic circumstances. Sadly, access to a quality K-12 education is becoming harder to attain, and the costs associated with higher education are mind blowing.

I am a public school teacher in Southern Nevada and a product of both, the Clark County School District (CCSD), and the Nevada System of Higher Education. I graduated from Rancho High School, the College of Southern Nevada, and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). With my strong Nevada-based education, I was able to propel myself to earn graduate degrees from both the University of Pennsylvania and Yale University. My reality would have still been a dream had I not had access to excellent CCSD teachers, the Nevada Millennium Scholarship, the G.I. Bill, and Federal Pell Grants. We must support greater access to educational opportunities at all levels, work to alleviate the student debt crisis, and give local school districts (who intimately know local needs) greater say in determining curricula.

When elected to Congress I will:

1. Aggressively push for free tuition at public community colleges, and work to bring down tuition costs at public four-year institutions.
2. Work to create aggressive consumer protection programs and investigatory initiatives to go after predatory student loan companies.
3. Sponsor legislation that will enable borrowers to refinance their loans at lower interest rates.
4. Support initiatives to fully fund all-day early childhood programs such as Head Start, and look to reward local school districts who develop quality and cost-free preschool programs.
5. Support tuition breaks and expedited tuition reimbursements for college students and graduates desiring careers as K-12 teachers.
6. Give local school districts greater say in running their affairs.


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