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Michael Bennet on Education
Democratic Presidential Challenger; CO Senator
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2016: Interviewed for Education Secretary in Obama's Cabinet
Senator Obama asked me to serve as an education adviser to his [2016 presidential] campaign. I said that I would. Throughout the course of the campaign, I participated several times on conference calls to try to refine candidate Obama's education policy.
After Obama's election, his transition team invited me to interview for the job of Secretary. I knew the job would likely go to Arne Duncan, another school superintendent and a friend from Chicago, but I still went. The job went to Arne.
Source: Land of Flickering Lights, by Michael Bennet, p. 17
, Jun 25, 2019
Halted years of budgetary cuts in the Denver Public Schools
Michael Bennet, the junior Senator from Colorado, has served most recently as the Superintendent of the Denver Public Schools.
As Superintendent, Michael worked to improve student achievement and classroom performance, while also overseeing a halt to years of budgetary cuts in the Denver Public Schools.
Source: Biography on www.senate.gov
, Jan 23, 2009
Oversaw investing $18 million in Denver schools & classrooms
As Superintendent, Michael worked hard to end the annual cycle of budget cuts at the Denver Public Schools. 2008 was the first in five years that the district did not have to cut its budget, and this year Denver was able to invest an additional $18
million in its schools & classrooms to enrich the academic environment for children. As a result, programs such as comprehensive Early Childhood Education have been enacted allowing over 2,000 four year olds to now have a full day Early Childhood
Education. Additionally, for the first time in Denver's history, over 90% of 5-year-olds have access to full-day kindergarten. These improvements are closing the achievement gap suffered by low-income children.Michael, working with the Denver Classroo
Teachers Association, revolutionized Procomp, a system of differentiated pay that pays teachers more for driving student achievement, serving in a high poverty school, or bringing a special set of talents, like the teaching of math or special education.
Source: Biography on www.senate.gov
, Jan 23, 2009
Opposes less federal or more local control of education.
Bennet opposes the F2A survey question on education
Faith2Action.org is "the nation's largest network of pro-family groups." They provide election resources for each state, including Voter Guides and Congressional Scorecards excerpted here.
The Faith2Action survey summarizes candidate stances on the following topic: 'Less federal and more state / local control of education'
Source: Faith2Action Survey 10-FF-q7 on Sep 19, 2010
Professional development grants for elementary principals.
Bennet signed S.3658
A bill to provide professional development for elementary school principals in early childhood education and development. Authorize the Secretary of Education to award competitive grants to partnerships to:- provide high quality professional development to elementary school principals in early childhood education and development;
- gain a knowledge base and capacity to provide high quality early childhood education; and
- collaborate with early childhood education providers, services providers, and families in creating a continuum of high quality development and learning for children in the community and school settings.
Directs the Secretary to establish a panel of leading experts in elementary and early childhood education to: - identify the best practices in professional development for elementary school principals in early childhood education;
- review the effective coordination of such training among this Act's grantees; and
- disseminate the latest research and findings regarding such training.
Source: Elementary and Secondary Education Act Amendment 10-S3658 on Jul 27, 2010
Sponsored bill discounting combat pay from free school lunch.
Bennet sponsored Military Family Nutrition Protection Act
A bill to amend the National School Lunch Act and the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 to require the exclusion of combat pay from income for purposes of determining eligibility for child nutrition programs and the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children.
Source: S.581 2009-S581 on Mar 12, 2009
Page last updated: Mar 01, 2020