Julian Castro on Education Democratic Presidential Challenger (withdrawn); former HUD Secretary

School curriculum should include climate change

CASTRO: I believe that it should. In fact, it's essential if we want to raise a generation of Americans that will do right by our planet, make the little decisions in life that are going to help ensure that we can get where we need to get to get to net zero. We need to end the system of people that get elected and then sit on a state-wide board that determines what is in curriculum. Too often right wing conservatives have taken over thes

Inner cities need help; invest in education

I would invest in housing that is affordable, because folks know that the rent is going through the roof. And we need to make sure that you don't have to get out of West Baltimore, or Inner City Detroit, or the west side of San Antonio, or anywhere, if you want to reach your American dream. I want you to be able to accomplish it in your great neighborhood where you are.

Universal free meals in schools

ONE CANDIDATE HAS SIMILAR VIEWS: Bernie Sanders.

Two Democratic candidates have proposed universal free meals in schools, regardless of a student's family income. Sen. Bernie Sanders and former HUD Secretary Julian Castro are touting the proposals as a way to ensure children don't go hungry and to eliminate the potential for "lunch shaming"--when schools single out students with unpaid bills.

Some high-poverty schools and school districts can already offer free meals to all students, but the practice is currently limited to areas where a certain percentage of the students are from low-income households.

School food programs cost the Agriculture Department $18.2 billion in fiscal 2018, according to preliminary data. Neither Sanders nor Castro has released specifics about how they would pay for their proposals, which are part of broader education platforms.

Give teachers tax credits of $2,000 to $10,000

No candidates have similar views. Former San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro has called for giving teachers a tax credit of up to $10,000. All teachers would get a minimum credit of $2,000. The amount would increase for teachers at schools based on the share of low-income students.

Nationwide expansion of universal pre-K

Invest in public schools, pre-K through higher ed

We have to improve K-12 education by investing in our public schools, paying teachers what they deserve, making sure that the needs of a child can be met at the school that they attend. We need to make higher education universal, so that people can go to a public university, community college, and apprenticeship program, some sort of job training program, at least tuition free so that everybody gets the knowledge and the skills that they need to compete.

Extended Pre-K education for needy kids

Two free years of higher education

• Education: Establish universal pre-K education. Provide two free years of higher education.
• As mayor of San Antonio, Castro convinced voters to raise taxes one-eighth of a cent to create the city's pre-kindergarten program for four-year-olds.
• He supports "universal pre-kindergarten" nationally and would like to make the first two years of higher education free.
• He has not yet offered specifics on his plans.

Attended Catholic school and public elementary school

In 1985, my brother and I transferred to St. Mary's Catholic School for fifth grade. After the first month, my head began to feel like a balloon expanding, but unable to pop. Joaquin was fine, but I was reacting to something in that school atmosphere, and the physical pressure was too much. By Christmas break, I was popping two Tylenols a day. [We] mounted a campaign to get out of St. Mary's School. Although we loved Mom and wanted to please her, we were clearly not happy there.

Mom thoughtfully listened to our arguments, she relented in late spring. While our arguments were persuasive, I've come to realize that Mom's decision to put us back in public school was based more on her inability to afford the tuition at St. Mary's.

Our most chronic problem is inequity in education

This inequity in our country's education system has never stopped seeming like one of our most chronic problems. It is painful to think of a kid forced to swim upstream, only to arrive at the same spot as somebody who had the opportunity placed in front of him.

Still, we'd gotten into Stanford, and now the rest was up to us. We didn't have the academic background that many of our classmates did, but we made up for that with sheer effort.

Graduated high school early to attend Stanford & Harvard Law

But part of that education is knowing how to fit the pursuit of knowledge into a balanced life. After Joaquin and I were accepted into Harvard, we decided to take a year off and be at home with Mom.

Money for education is investment, not charity

SERVE SA: 1,500 new volunteers to read in grade schools

Every day in our community opportunities exist for you to make a difference. We each have it within our power to change the trajectory of San Antonio.

Take "Race to the Top" Funds despite governor's refusal

Castro's advice to cities and communities that want federal funding but, due to friction between the state and the federal government, might find it hard to come by it was to cut out the middle man. "You need to make a direct pitch to the administration," he said.

Of course, another option is to change the middle man. The San Antonio mayoralty may be non-partisan, but Castro is a Democrat--and he thinks his party might have a shot in at least one statewide race this year: "With Gov. Perry," said Castro, "that's a race that will be very close."