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Mazie Hirono on Education

Democratic challenger; Representative (HI-2)

 


Life long learning, "P through L"

Q: How do you propose to improve the quality and availability of education?

A: Education should be the great equalizer. But Bush's misguided education policy, No Child Left Behind, has warped the way we teach our children. I will fight to ensure that its overemphasis on testing and labeling schools as failing are replaced with a focus on placing a qualified, caring, and competent teacher in every classroom. I believe in life long learning - "P through L" - Pre-kindergarten through life.

Source: 2006 Senate campaign website, mazieforcongress.com, "Issues" , Nov 7, 2006

Encourage more character education in schools

Favors a comprehensive program audit of the state Department of Education; would continue to push for more early childhood education; would encourage more character education in schools; favors improving teacher quality by expanding professional development schools and programs; opposes locally elected school boards, but favors decision making at the school and local level.
Source: Honolulu Advertiser, "Hirono: From Poverty to Quiet Power" , Sep 4, 2002

$25B to renovate or repair elementary schools.

Hirono signed Fix America's Schools Today Act (FAST)

Source: HR2948&S1597 11-HR2948 on Sep 15, 2011

Comprehensive sex ed for sexually-active adolescents.

Hirono co-sponsored Real Education for Healthy Youth Act

Award competitive grants to provide adolescents with comprehensive sex education to:

  1. replicate evidence-based sex education programs,
  2. substantially incorporate elements of evidence-based sex education programs, or
  3. create a demonstration project based on generally accepted characteristics of effective sex education programs.
Prohibits federal funds provided under this Act from being used for health education programs that:
  1. deliberately withhold life-saving information about HIV;
  2. are medically inaccurate or have been scientifically shown to be ineffective;
  3. promote gender stereotypes;
  4. are insensitive and unresponsive to the needs of sexually active youth or lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender youth; or
  5. are inconsistent with the ethical imperatives of medicine and public health.

Opponent`s argument against bill: (Nick Wing on Huffington Post) An abstinence-only effort, introduced the same day, the Abstinence Education Reallocation Act, stands as an effective counter to the Democratic-backed Real Education for Healthy Youth Act.

According to the text of the abstinence-only bill, sex education programs would need to be `medically accurate` and teach the `skills and benefits of sexual abstinence as the optimal sexual health behavior for youth` in order to qualify for grant money. The bill also calls for applicable programs to focus on the `holistic health, economic, and societal benefits that can be gained by refraining from non-marital sexual activity,` as well as to provide an `understanding of how drugs, alcohol, and the irresponsible use of social media can influence sexual decision-making and can contribute to risky and often aggressive sexual behavior.`

Source: H.R.725 / S.372 13-S0372 on Feb 14, 2013

Make two years of community college free.

Hirono signed making two years of community college free

Excerpts from press release from Tammy Baldwin, Senate sponsor: The America`s College Promise Act makes two years of community college free by:

Community, technical, and tribal colleges enroll 40% of all college students today. Community colleges are uniquely positioned to partner with employers to create tailored training programs to meet economic needs within their communities such as nursing and advanced manufacturing.

Opposing argument: (Cato Institute, `College Courtesy of the Taxpayer? No Thanks,` Jan. 9, 2015): One look at either community college outcomes or labor market outlooks reveals free college to be educational folly. Community college completion rates are atrocious: a mere 19.5% of community college students complete their programs. Meanwhile, the for-profit sector has an almost 63% completion rate. And [about 70%] of the new job categories in coming years will require a high school diploma or less.

Opposing argument: (Heritage Foundation, `Free Community College Is a Bad Deal`, July 15, 2016): Free college proposals would subject community colleges to the same types of subsidies-induced inflation endemic at four-year institutions. And low-income students already have access to federal Pell Grants, which can cover the bulk of community college tuition. By contrast, a more open market of alternative schooling models, such as online or vocational education programs, could better tailor degrees at a lower cost.

Source: America's College Promise Act 15-S1716 on Jul 8, 2015

Recruit women & minorities for STEM teaching.

Hirono sponsored S2710 & HR4803