Jim Rubens on Education

Unconstitutional for federal government to control K-12

Instead, state and local education funds should be block granted so that elected state and local policymakers and school leaders are free to determine how best to use our tax money to improve student learning by means best suited to our varying local needs.

Congress must respond to parents' concerns about one-size-fits-all schools. Parents do not want their children over tested or mined for personal data. Wave after wave of experimental reforms - like Common Core, promoted by profit-making corporations with an interest in harmful standardization -- have badly stressed teachers, students and their parents and have failed to improve learning.

Support charter schools & school choice

Ruben indicates support of the following principles regarding New Hampshire's education system.
• Continue the current New Hampshire policy of encouraging private or corporate investment in certain public school programs.
• Support continuation of charter schools where teachers and other professionals receive state authorization and funding to establish new schools.
• Emphasize local control of education as long as the school district meets state health and safety standards.
• Continue to support "school choice" which allows parents to choose which public school their child(ren)should attend.
• Increase the number of post-secondary vocational and technical education programs in New Hampshire.
• Q: Should all New Hampshire public schools participate in the federal Goals 2000 program?
  A: No.
• Q: Do you support instituting mandatory kindergartens with partial state funding in New Hampshire school districts?
  A: No.