Education

I believe our children are our most precious resource. We invest in our future by investing in their education. Education and the protection of our children should be our number one priority in America. We all lose if we let anything narrow the curriculum, or cause mere "teaching to the test," or relinquish good education for rote memorization.

I propose a full commitment, as children learn best when we provide for their:

HEROS

Health – Protect Denali Kid Care (S-CHIP) and healthy school lunch programs.

Education – Fully fund public education at all levels including early education like Head Start, K-12, special education and continued learning.

Recreation – Promote after school and extracurricular programs. Restore school recess and physical education programs to reduce obesity and early onset diabetes.

Opportunity – Fund trade and vocational programs, literacy programs, scholars and university programs, and commit to reduce drop-out rates and create incentives for business mentoring. Expand teaching and training opportunities for teachers.

Safety – Fund and protect children and school staff through internet safety education, child sexual abuse awareness and reporting, and counseling.

In addition, as Alaska’s Congresswoman I will support:

• Rewrite No Child Left Behind (NCLB) - At best, it is a flawed, under-funded mandate imposed on the public schools. Progress should be rewarded, and troubled schools should be helped, rather than hindered
• Protection of Title One – This program closes the achievement gap, helping to assure all kids have the tools to be successful.
• Increase funding for IDEA(Individuals with Disabilities Education Act). IDEA funds special education. Congress pledged to pay 40% of the cost to educate a student receiving mandated services through IDEA. But the federal government is funding just under 20%, thereby leaving the states to pay for another unfunded mandate
• Promote Congressional action to protect ALL earned Social Security benefits for public employees regardless of job, spousal survival or career changes. Encourage growth of the Government Pension Offset and WEP (Windfall Elimination Provision).