Higher education benefits the entire society, not just the student, and should be fully supported at the federal level. K through 12 education should be neither regulated nor funded at the federal level. This video discusses why.
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Education
Access to education is an essential and primary factor in the creation of opportunity for all members of our society. We should provide a way for each individual to work toward accomplishing of greatest aspirations and fully developing their talents. Education does not provide benefits only for the student, but instead provides benefits for the broader society, economically, as we make wiser decisions, and through an enhanced quality of life.
We should fully support higher education at the federal level. This support should be directed to public schools and take two forms:
The current individual burden imposed by funding through student loans is unconscionable; many students leave school owing $40,000 to $80,000. This imposes an undue burden on the student, since the economic benefits of education flow to the entire society, not just the student. Accordingly, society, through government, should bear more of the burden.
If elected, during my first term I will seek to expand the Pell Grant program so that each student is eligible to receive an amount equal to 70% of the average total cost in fees, tuition, and room and board at public universities. In addition, I will work to reduce student loan interest rates on existing and future student loans.
While I support excellence and full-funding of public education at the K-12 levels, I do not believe that the federal government is the appropriate source for either funding or standards at this level, in accord with the principle that decisions should be made and resources raised as close to home as possible.