The Washington Examiner: on Education

Ben Carson: Incentivize the state to offer vouchers

A: Provide vouchers, so that they would have choice in terms of the schools that they go to. We know that the best education is homeschool, the next is private schools, the next is charter schools, the next is public schools. If we want to change that dynamic we've got to offer some real competition to the public schools. We do everything we can to facilitate school choice, a voucher system. Incentivize the states to enact voucher systems.

Bernie Sanders: Fix No-Child-Left-Behind with Every-Student-Succeeds-Act

Rep. Bernie Sanders voted in favor of the initial NCLB bill in May 2001, but voted against the final version in December 2001. Sen. Hillary Clinton voted in favor of both the initial NCLB bill and the final bill.

On the new ESEA bill, Sanders voted for the initial bill in the Senate education committee; then voted in favor on the Senate floor and in favor of the conference committee version. Hillary Clinton announced her support for the Every Student Succeeds Act, which is widely considered a fix to No Child Left Behind's worst flaws.

Hillary Clinton: Fix No-Child-Left-Behind with Every-Student-Succeeds-Act

Rep. Bernie Sanders voted in favor of the initial NCLB bill in May 2001, but voted against the final version in December 2001. Sen. Hillary Clinton voted in favor of both the initial NCLB bill and the final bill.

On the new ESEA bill, Sanders voted for the initial bill in the Senate education committee; then voted in favor on the Senate floor and in favor of the conference committee version. Hillary Clinton announced her support for the Every Student Succeeds Act, which is widely considered a fix to No Child Left Behind's worst flaws.

James Craig: Parents deserve school choice; led to his conservatism

Jamie Radtke: Would vote against No Child Left Behind as too expensive

For the most part, the four candidates found common ground on a number of issues, including their shared desire to shift more of the responsibility for education to the states.

Kaine's campaign responded to the repeated criticism following the debate. "Virginia voters heard the Tea Party contenders push reckless economic policies that would damage Virginia's economy, create more uncertainty for our businesses, and make our nation less globally competitive," a Kaine spokeswoman said.

Rand Paul: Federal student loans are ok, if within spending limits

The student insisted that he wanted assistance for his college education and asked if Rand Paul supported a culture change within the nation. Paul responded that he believed that government should allow people to believe whatever they wanted, and clarified that he didn't believe in the absence of government.

The Kentucky Republican added that he supported the idea of student loans from the government but added that the federal government shouldn't be allowed to spend more money than it takes in: "I think 'leave me alone' is a good mantra for government because government has to be involved in certain things but there are many things that we can leave government out of," Paul concluded.