2016 Vice Presidential prospects: on Education
Tim Kaine:
Protect LGBT students at schools, including gender identity
In May, Kaine wrote a letter to Education Secretary John B. King Jr. urging him to issue a clarification that LGBT students are protected from discrimination under Title IX, which prohibits sex-based discrimination in federally funded education programs
and activities. Less than two weeks later, the Education Department issued guidance that transgender students must be permitted to use bathrooms that align with their gender identity.
Source: Politico.com, "Education Letter," on 2016 Veepstakes
Jul 25, 2016
Tim Kaine:
Individualized learning, not charter schools
Most policy debate these days seems to be about charter schools or testing. But I'm convinced that the most important reform has been under our noses since 1975, when legislation was passed to guarantee children with diagnosed
disabilities receive individualized learning plans tailored to meet their specific needs. Let's use the insight gained through advances in educating kids with disabilities to leverage new technologies and teaching methods that can individualize learning.
Source: DianeRavitch.com, "Kaine Loves Schools," on 2016 Veepstakes
Jul 23, 2016
Mike Pence:
Replaced Common Core with state-standards version
Indiana was quick to adopt, and quickest to drop, Common Core state standards, pleasing no one with final results. Indiana was one of the first of 44 states to adopt the Common Core state standards in 2010, and it was the first state to "turn its back"
on the standards in 2014.Pence pushed for the adoption of new standards that were "identical or nearly the same" as Common Core, leading to rapid standards and testing changes that left educators and students in a state of confusion.
Pence earned praise for getting rid of Common Core, but the cheers subsided when drafts of the new standards were released. Critics complained that many of the standards were identical or nearly the same as Common Core standards--more than
70% by one accounting. But those backing Common Core weren't celebrating either. Just enough Common Core principles had been removed that supporters of the standards consider Indiana's proposal little more than a watered down version.
Source: Media Matters, "What Media Should Know," on 2016 Veepstakes
Jul 14, 2016
Bob Corker:
Engage private foundations to provide teacher bonus pay
- Senator Bob Corker is a strong advocate for ensuring all children have access to quality education and are given the opportunity to succeed. He believes that the key to our future depends on highly educated students prepared for the
21st century and that well trained, highly performing teachers help reach that goal.
- Increased Teacher Pay: As mayor of Chattanooga, Corker teamed with local school officials and community leaders to bring the region's best teachers to the city's
lowest performing schools by offering bonus pay. In addition, he engaged private foundations in providing those teachers with free graduate school tuition and forgiveness on home loans.
- Advancing Math and Science Education:
Senator Corker voted for legislation that provides up to $43 billion for basic scientific research, doubling what is currently spent. It creates thousands of new opportunities for math and science students, teachers and researchers.
Source: Official Senate website for 2016 Veepstakes Senators
Jul 5, 2016
Elizabeth Warren:
Preserve Head Start and school lunch programs
Elizabeth started her career teaching special-needs kids in a public elementary school. She believes the achievement gap can be closed only by improving and supporting education from pre-K to college. She will fight to preserve Head Start & school
lunch programs, work with teachers and parents to improve schools, encourage elementary and middle school mentoring programs, prioritize advanced technical training programs, and support high school-to-community-college pipelines.
Source: 2016 Veepstakes: campaign website ElizabethWarren.com
Jul 2, 2016
Bill Weld:
Prefers state input on education, not one national standard
Weld told The Associated Press that swapping state standards for proposed national ones is "a retrograde step" and a precursor to eliminating the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System, or MCAS, tests in both of those subject areas.
More broadly, he said the state's unique education curriculum "is a competitive advantage Massachusetts has. If you say, 'Let's have one national standard,' then we're the same as everyone else. That makes no sense to me."
Source: Springfield Republican (MassLive.com) on 2016 Veepstakes
Jul 20, 2010
Tim Kaine:
School vouchers divert resources from our public schools
On the day the Supreme Court announced its school choice decision, Gov. Mark Warner released a statement saying he opposed school vouchers because they "divert precious resources from our public schools."
Lt. Gov. Tim Kaine has voiced the same objection.
Source: DailyPress.com, "School Choice", for 2016 Veepstakes
Jul 14, 2002
Bill Weld:
Establish the first 25 charter schools in Massachusetts
In 1993, Governor Weld signed the Education Reform Act into law. Among other things, the new law authorizes the establishment of up to 25 charter schools, beginning in 1995. No more than five of these schools may be established in Boston or
Springfield, no more than two may be located in any other city or town, and no more than 0.75% of the total public school student population may attend charter schools. Tuition payments will vary, depending on where a school is located.
Source: The Heritage Foundation, "School Choice": 2016 Veepstakes
Mar 1, 1995
Page last updated: Nov 30, 2021