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In general, I believe that education is a state and local issue that is best guided by state and local school boards, teachers, and, most of all, parents.
Given my strong belief that the primary responsibility for education lies closest to home, I nonetheless think there is much that can be done on the federal level to reach our goal of quality education for all children.
On the federal level, I have worked to support such important programs as Pell Grants and other student loan assistance, the Headstart and Title I programs, Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and initiatives such as tax-free Education Savings Accounts. I also believe there is a role for the federal government in studying the future workforce skill requirements that will help our entire nation's children become better prepared for the challenges of the next century.
I support efforts to help children who attend under-perfoming schools. But private school vouchers and tuition tax credits are not the answer to the challenges facing our nation's schools. Much as we would like to see them as a panacea, I am afraid that the voucher debate has often diverted attention from -- rather than contributed constructively to -- the real educational challenges at hand.
Within a public school district, I support parental choice or vouchers, for there can be free and fair competition. I also believe it will make our public schools more responsive to the needs of students. But unlike private schools, public schools are obligated to accept any and all children residing within their districts, regardless of what unique needs or disabilities they may have. Full constitutional rights and duties apply to the operation of public schools, whereas private schools are rightly allowed to operate in accordance with their own unique aims and objectives. Federal funds for private schools could sacrifice the special and unique features of private schools while further weakening the public school system.
| Judy on EducationJudy's position on educating children across the 13th District and nation.
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