Education
"Keeping America competitive will help create good jobs and ensure our ability to compete in a global marketplace. That process begins with a high-quality educational system and continues with new ideas and increased investments in people here at home."
— Congressman Bart Gordon
Properly educating America’s youth will enable them to obtain tomorrow’s jobs and ensure America remains competitive in the global marketplace. Strong math and science skills will be necessary for the jobs of the future, and it is essential that we have the best-trained minds teaching the nation’s children these skills.
Reducing the Cost of College Education
According to the U.S. Department of Education, the average cost of college for a student in 1985 was $4,885 per year (tuition, fees, room and board). Today, the average cost has risen by almost $10,000 to $14,629 per year. However, college financial aid (both loans and grants) has not risen in conjunction with the dramatic increases in the cost of college during the past two decades. In the 110th Congress, Bart was a strong advocate of the College Cost Reduction and Access Act, which was signed into law on September 27, 2007. The legislation cuts interest rates on subsidized student loans in half, which will help more than 6 million students each year. The legislation also provides a gradual increase to Pell Grant scholarships, raising the maximum value from $4,300 to $5,400 over the next four years. The legislation is the single largest investment in higher education since the 1944 G.I. Bill, which enabled 7.8 million World War II veterans to participate in education or job training programs.
Strengthening the Training of Teachers
According to a National Academies’ 2005 report, 68 percent of 8th grade students in the United States received math instruction from a teacher who lacked a degree or certification in the field. The report also revealed that 93 percent of students in grades 5-9 received physical science instruction from teachers without a certification in the subject matter. In response to this report, Bart authored landmark legislation, the America COMPETES Act, which was signed into law on August 9, 2007. The legislation will help prepare thousands of new teachers by offering scholarships to students who major in math or science and education and commit to becoming teachers upon graduation. The COMPETES act will also provide current teachers with content and teaching skills through summer training institutes.
Decreasing Pupil-to-Teacher Ratios
The benefits of smaller classes have been widely recognized by parents, students, and teachers alike. Studies have found that lower pupil-to-teacher ratios are especially important when it comes to learning math, science, and how to read. In the 110th Congress, Bart strongly supported legislation to reduce class sizes. The legislation would have provided $2 billion in grant money to assist states and local education agencies to recruit, hire, and train 100,000 teachers to reduce class sizes nationally to an average of 18 students per class.
