Education

I am deeply concerned by the deterioration of our nation’s public school system. The poor quality of education that many of our children receive is an outrage which threatens to undermine our society. These problems can and must be solved. Through alternatives such as school vouchers, charter schools, on-line education, and home schooling, we can give parents and students a greater choice in education. A refundable tax credit, equal to the cost of educating a child in a public school, should be given to parents who choose alternatives that otherwise cost nothing to the public school system. This would serve to increase the competition facing public schools and force them to improve. Attempts by unions to limit education choices through unfair regulations cannot be tolerated.

I also believe that the federal government’s efforts to regulate our nation’s public education system, while well-meaning, can contribute to the problem. Our great country is too large and too diverse for a one-size-fits-all approach to education. The role of the federal government must be very limited and federal funding should be distributed through block grants with few or no strings attached.