David Vitter on Education Former Republican Rep (LA-1); Senate challenger

Headstart is very important but also very spotty

Supports vouchers for private & religious schools

Vitter supports the following principles regarding education:
• Allow parents to use vouchers (equal opportunity scholarships) to send their children to any publicly-funded school, and to any participating school: public, private or religious.
• Allow parents to use tax-free savings accounts to send their children to any publicly-funded school, and to any participating school: public, private or religious.

Supports charter schools & increased flexibility

Vitter supports the following principles regarding education:
• Support charter schools where teachers and professionals receive authorization and funding to establish new schools.
• Promote education flexibility by giving federal funds, in the form of block grants, to the states to spend it as they see fit.
• Eliminate restrictions on federal education funding, giving educators or local school districts more flexibility to design and implement their programs.

Voted YES on allowing school prayer during the War on Terror.

Voted YES on requiring states to test students.

Rated 9% by the NEA, indicating anti-public education votes.

The National Education Association has a long, proud history as the nation's leading organization committed to advancing the cause of public education. Founded in 1857 "to elevate the character and advance the interests of the profession of teaching and to promote the cause of popular education in the United States," the NEA has remained constant in its commitment to its original mission as evidenced by the current mission statement:

To fulfill the promise of a democratic society, the National Education Association shall promote the cause of quality public education and advance the profession of education; expand the rights and further the interest of educational employees; and advocate human, civil, and economic rights for all.