Education
Whether through career and technical education or the inclusion of the arts in STEM education, I am an advocate for innovative approaches to teaching our nation's children.
Our public education system is one of the foundations of our democracy. Investing in our children’s education not only has long-term benefits for our economy, but it also delivers on our nation’s promise to ensure that all individuals have an equal opportunity to succeed. I am deeply committed to improving our nation’s schools so that all children, regardless of the neighborhood in which they grow up, have the chance to achieve their full potential. It is imperative that we invest in education to promote new employment and ensure that students can adapt to the jobs that will grow our 21st century economy.
I believe we must invest in our students at every level, from early education to postsecondary education. I support Rhode Island’s efforts to become a leader in preK-12 education, and as Congress works to reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, also known as No Child Left Behind, I will work to ensure there is flexibility at the local level, a focus on rewarding schools instead of punishing them, and encouraging great leadership from both administrators and teachers. Finally, as the cost of higher education has soared in recent years, I continue my strong support of policies and programs, like Pell Grants, to ensure that all Americans, regardless of their background or economic status, have access to higher education.
In addition, I am working on initiatives in both Washington and Rhode Island to revamp our education system for the 21st Century:
Career and Technical Education
As a co-chair of the Congressional Career and Technical Education (CTE) Caucus, I am working in Rhode Island and at the national level to highlight the importance of career and technical education in creating jobs, retraining workers, and ensuring that students of all ages are career- and college-ready. I joined my co-chair, Congressman Glenn “G.T.” Thompson (R-PA), to introduce H.R. 3154, the Education for Tomorrow’s Jobs Act, which would encourage the combination of rigorous college prep academics with real-world experience, known as “Linked Learning.” This measure will ensure that our students are prepared for a wide range of high-growth, high-skilled and high-wage occupations, such as engineering, arts and media, information technology, and health. Congressman Thompson and I have also led a bipartisan effort to ensure CTE programs are adequately funded.
STEM to STEAM
Art and design programs are an essential component of a well-rounded curriculum and play an integral role in improving student achievement and advancing the understanding of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) learning and collaboration. Along with the Rhode Island School of Design, I hosted STEM to STEAM briefings in Rhode Island and Washington, D.C. to discuss the importance of integrating art and design into our country’s education system and efforts to maintain global leadership in technological innovation. I also introduced H.Res.319, a resolution that encourages federal agencies to facilitate a comprehensive approach to incorporate art and design into federal STEM programs. For more information on this initiative, please visit www.stemtosteam.org.
Funding STEM Programs
Along with my colleague Congressman Tim Ryan (D-OH), I introduced H.R. 2247, the Innovation Inspiration School Grant Program, which establishes a grant process for schools to fund alternative STEM programs. The bill increases access to non-traditional efforts needed to complement regular classroom activity to better engage students in these subject areas and help them with the practical application of their studies. Grants would be available to ensure teachers can access hands-on training, as well as to allow instruction outside of school hours. In addition, resources can be put toward partnering with business and industry to support participation in nonprofit STEM competition.
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