Education
The issue of Education is important to our district and to my work in Congress.
We need an education system that prepares New Hampshire’s children for the future and recognizes that education is critical to the economic well-being of our country and the future prosperity of our children. As a parent and former Mayor of Manchester who worked closely with the city’s School Board, I believe we must look to streamline spending, promote flexibility and innovation, improve teacher quality, and empower parents. I support policies that ensure taxpayer dollars are spent wisely, remove ineffective programs and make investments that help students make an impact. In order to accomplish these goals, we need to reduce the federal government’s role in education and encourage parental involvement to help our children succeed.
I write a monthly Education E-Newsletter to keep Granite Staters informed about what I am doing on this important issue. If you would like to recieve a copy of the e-newsletter, please email my District Director, Roger Wilkins at roger.wilkins@mail.house.gov and he will add you to our distribution list.
Legislative Action
Voted for H.R. 4628, the Interest Rate Reduction Act
- It would extend the current 3.4 percent rate for college undergraduate recipients of Federal Direct Stafford loans. Without congressional action, that rate will double on July 1. The bill was approved in a 215 to 195 vote.
- To pay for maintaining the lower interest rate, the measure would reallocate nearly $6 billion by eliminating the Prevention and Public Health Fund created in the new national healthcare reform law.
- You can read my full statement on the passage of the bill here.
Cosponsored HR 2514, the Academic Partnerships Leads Us to Success (A-PLUS) Act
- H.R. 2514 allows states to enter into a five-year performance agreement with the U.S. Secretary of Education, exempting it from federal education programs and block granting federal education funds to be used for any lawful education purpose the states deem beneficial. This allows states to opt out of the prescriptive programmatic requirements of NCLB and use funding in a way that will best meet their students’ needs.
- You can read my editorial on the A-PLUS Act by clicking here.
Voted in support of H.R. 2218, The Empowering Parents Through Quality Charter Schools Act
- H.R. 2218 encourages states to support the development and expansion of charter schools. It streamlines federal Charter School Program funding to reduce administrative burdens and improves funding opportunities for the replication of successful charter models and facilities assistance. It also supports an evaluation of schools’ impact on students, families, and communities, while also encouraging sharing best practices between charters and traditional public schools.
Cosponsored and voted for HR 2117, the Protecting Academic Freedom in Higher Education Act
- Last year, the Department of Education released a package of regulations. Two of these were the credit hour and state authorization regulations. Both would put the federal government in the middle of issues that have historically been the responsibility of individual academic institutions or states.
- HR 2117 prevents unprecedented and unnecessary federal overreach into postsecondary academic affairs by repealing the federal definition of a credit hour and prohibiting the Department of Education from redefining the term. This will protects students from higher costs by reducing unnecessary state authorization regulations.
- It passed the House of Representatives on Feb. 28, 2012. You can read my comments on the House passage of the bill by clicking here.
I show my personal commitment to supporting students and educators by frequently visiting classrooms. Here are the schools I've visited since taking office:
Bakersville Elementary School, Manchester, NH (2010-2011 school year)
Beech Street Elementary School, Manchester, NH (2010-2011 school year)
D. J. Bakie Elementary School, Kingston, NH (2010-2011 school year)
Gossler Park Elementary School, Manchester, NH (2010-2011 school year)
Jewett Elementary School, Manchester, NH (2010-2011 school year)
Spaulding High School and RW Creteau Technology Center, Rochester, NH (2010-2011 school year)
Winnacunnet High School, Hampton, NH (2010-2011 school year)
Matthew Thornton School, Londonderry, NH (2010-2011 school year)
Saint Anthony of Padua Elementary School, Manchester, NH (2011-2012 school year)
Saint Joseph Regional Junior High School, Manchester, NH (2011-2012 school year)
Monarch School, Rochester, NH (2011-2012 school year)
Parker-Varney Elementary School, Manchester, NH (2011-2012 school year)
New Franklin School, Portsmouth, NH (2011-2012 school year)
New Durham Elementary School, New Durham, NH (2011-2012 school year)
St. Patrick's Elementary School, Portsmouth, NH (2011-2012 school year)
Tri-City Christian Academy, Somersworth, NH (2011-2012 school year)
Somersworth High School Career Technical Center, Somersworth, NH (2011-2012 school year)
Pinkerton Academy, Derry, NH (2011-2012 school year)
Mountain View Middle School, Goffstown, NH (2011-2012 school year)