Thom Tillis on Education

More loan relief to students during the COVID-19 pandemic

A: I introduced bipartisan legislation that gives more loan relief to students during the COVID-19 pandemic in addition to the student relief that I previously voted for in the CARES Act. I recognize that this pandemic has put undue strain on those with student loan debt, and I was proud to work on legislation to reduce the burden for our nation's students.

Supports vouchers for students to attend private schools

Thom Tillis: Yes. Supports vouchers for students to attend private schools with government assistance.

Cal Cunningham: No. Supports phasing out school vouchers to pay for private-school tuition.

FactCheck: Passed school budget of $23.1B, but no cuts

Who made it: Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, and National Education Association Advocacy Fund in separate TV ads and Sen. Kay Hagan in the first debate.

The facts: The $500 million amount comes from the continuation budget put out each year by the state Department of Public Instruction. This is the amount DPI says it would cost to keep programs going at the current level when factoring in the enrollment of more students. The 2013 continuation budget called for $23.6 billion over two years. The legislature's budget included $23.1 billion over two years, or $482 million short of what DPI said was needed. Tillis voted for that budget.

The $500 million is an overstatement. Some also argue that underfunding is not a cut.

The DPI says the money budgeted for textbooks, instructional supplies, technology, literacy coaches, and the like, has been reduced by $1 billion since 2008-2009.

Department of Education is 5,000 overpaid bureaucrats

"I'm not willing to settle just for a national standard if we think we can set a new standard and a best practice," Tillis said, pivoting to an attack on the federal Education Department as "a bureaucracy of 5,000 people in Washington" who make an average salary of over $100,000.

While criticizing the Education Department is common among Republicans, Tillis was standing next to the younger brother of President George W. Bush, whose signature accomplishments include No Child Left Behind, the sweeping federal education law run by the department.

Bush sensed the need to play down any differences: "We can argue about what to call these things," he said, but maintained that the focus ought to be on ensuring high standards.

Oppose Common Core; eliminate U.S. Department of Education

All four candidates said they oppose Common Core education standards. Brannon said he believe in no federal and state education standards. "Common Core became law under Thom's watch," he said. "[It] destroyed education with the Department of Education."

Tillis said he opposes Common Core and he identified the U.S. Education Department when asked to identify a federal cabinet agency he would eliminate. "We existed for more than a century without one," said Tillis, offering a nuanced explanation. "That's the first department I'd look at...At some point, I'd wonder whether or not it needs to exist in its current form."

Anti-free college, according to AFA survey.

The AFA inferred whether candidates agree or disagree with the statement, 'Taxpayer-funded public education should be guaranteed through college'? Self-description: (American Family Association helps produce iVoterGuides): `Grounded in God; rooted in research`; they `thoroughly investigate candidates`; when they cannot `evaluate with confidence, they receive an `Insufficient` rating` (& we exclude)

Anti-transgender bathrooms, according to CC survey.

The Christian Coalition inferred whether candidates agree or disagree with the statement, 'Prohibiting Public Schools from Allowing Boys to Use Girls' Bathrooms; and Vice Versa?' Self-description by Christian Coalition of America: "These guides help give voters a clear understanding of where candidates stand on important pro-family issues" for all Senate and Presidential candidates.