Issue Position: Education

Issue Position

Education is the great equalizer that gives individuals from all backgrounds the opportunity to succeed. In the past California provided its citizens a public education that was the envy of the world. Sadly, today there is plenty of room for improvement and I am committed to returning our education system to one California children deserve.

The state has taken steps in the right direction with the passage of Proposition 30 and Governor Brown's Local Control Funding Formula, which stabilizes state finances and provides local school districts with greater discretion to spend funds. I will fight to ensure that our schools are not only adequately funded but that the dollars are used in an efficient and effective method.

Two areas where I am particularly interested in seeing progress are STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) programs and career technical education. These areas, important for all students, are critical to fulfilling the workforce needs of our high-tech industries and the creation of good-paying middle class jobs.

We must look to make investment in higher education systems produce more. Students today are asked to do more with less, and we should expect the same shared sacrifice from faculty and school administration. Students (and their parents) at community colleges, CSU and UC have seen tuition skyrocket over the last decade. Families need a time-out from rising cost pressures, so I support a five-year tuition freeze and am committed to finding long-term funding solutions to prevent further drastic tuition increases.

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