90 percent of the fastest growing jobs require education or training beyond a high school diploma.  That is why we cannot afford to turn a blind eye to the 30 percent of high school students who don’t make it to graduation day.

I support and thank educators for the work they do to help our children learn.  It’s a noble profession that doesn’t get the respect it deserves.

The No Child Left Behind Act isn’t perfect.  There is much work we need to do to make sure that, while we are ensuring kids are learning, we are making sure our educators get the support they need.

I support legislation that would allow states to opt out of the No Child Left Behind Act. I have cosponsored legislation that would allow school districts more flexibility in the way the can spend federal funds.

I've also voted for legislation that would ensure 95% of federal education dollars make their way to the classroom and aren't spent on bureaucracy.

I support charter schools and home school programs.  Every child is unique and families should have the right to choose if they want to place their child in a charter school or if they want to home school them.

I have voted to help parents pay for their child’s education by allowing parents to invest up to $2,000 annually in Education Savings Accounts.  I also voted to permit tax-free withdrawals from ESAs to pay for both K-12 and college education expenses.

Teacher pay is controlled by the states, not the federal government.  However, because I know they sacrifice financially to fulfill their calling, I support teacher tax relief efforts.  I voted for a law that allows a $250 tax deduction for classroom expenses, if a teacher wishes to purchase supplies out of their own pocket.  I also support a bill (H.R. 3758) which would make this law permanent and raise the deduction to $500.

We also have a commitment to those who seek higher education.

Congress has worked to increase college access and affordability.  We have tripled federal aid for college students and have increased Pell Grant funding by two-thirds over the past decade. We have also reformed the government’s student loan program to make it easier for students to apply for financial aid.

I have reached across the aisle to work with Tim Murphy (D-PA) to get an amendment passed in the US House that would allow students to see an estimated total cost of their degree.  Incoming freshman would be able to better plan for tuition increases their sophomore, junior, and senior years.

I’ve voted for bills to help displaced workers, who attend classes, to be retrained.  These bills help provide access to classes and cover worker retraining costs so they can get the skills needed to find new jobs.

I will continue to support our students and teachers in early education through high school programs, and continue to fight for student, parents, and workers who seek higher education.