As First Lady, Senator Clinton promoted the Prescription for Reading program, encouraging pediatricians to "prescribe" that new parents read to their children. She helped create Early Head Start in order to prepare students from low income backgrounds for school. She also spearheaded the administration's efforts to grow an after-school program from a pilot program of $1 million to a $1 billion program, serving children in all 50 states. As a senator, Hillary worked to reform and fully fund No Child Left Behind. She helped enact legislation to recruit and retain teachers and principals to high-need areas.
Now as she looks toward the White House, Senator Clinton's education plan reflects her commitment to quality education for all children. For the complete education plan, please visit her campaign web site.
Early Childhood Education
Hillary knows that parents are our children's first teachers, and the early years have a tremendous impact on their lives. That is why she will invest heavily in proven strategies to get all children ready for school, including:
In the 21st century, a college education is more important than ever. Hillary believes it's time for a new bargain with the American people -- a bargain that gives all Americans willing to work hard the tools they need to get ahead. Her plan will make college more affordable and accessible so that every American who has earned it and wants to go has the chance to get a college degree. As president, she will:
Now as she looks toward the White House, Senator Clinton's education plan reflects her commitment to quality education for all children. For the complete education plan, please visit her campaign web site.
Early Childhood Education
Hillary knows that parents are our children's first teachers, and the early years have a tremendous impact on their lives. That is why she will invest heavily in proven strategies to get all children ready for school, including:
- Nurse home visitation programs to help new parents develop parenting skills.
- Quality child care and Head Start.
- Pre-kindergarten for all four-year olds.
K-12
Hillary also knows that we have to improve our K-12 system in order to ensure that every child is prepared to compete in an increasingly global economy. As president, she will:
- End the unfunded mandate known as No Child Left Behind.
- Meet the funding promises of IDEA to ensure that children with special needs get the attention and support they deserve.
- Recruit and retain thousands more outstanding teachers and principals, especially in urban and rural areas.
- Cut the minority dropout rate in half.
- Create "Green Schools" in order to reduce energy costs and eliminate environmental hazards that can hinder children's development.
- Expand early-intervention mentoring programs to help one million at-risk youth aspire for college and job success.
- Identify at-risk youth early on and provide $1 billion in intensive interventions, such as early college high schools and multiple pathways to graduation, to get them back on track.
- Double the after school program to ensure that 2 million young people have a safe and stimulating place to go between 3 and 6 p.m.
- Invest $100 million in a new public/private summer internship program.
- Provide opportunity for 1.5 million disconnected youth in job programs linked to high-growth economic sectors.
In the 21st century, a college education is more important than ever. Hillary believes it's time for a new bargain with the American people -- a bargain that gives all Americans willing to work hard the tools they need to get ahead. Her plan will make college more affordable and accessible so that every American who has earned it and wants to go has the chance to get a college degree. As president, she will:
- Create a new $3,500 college tax credit.
- Increase the maximum Pell Grant.
- Strengthen community colleges through a $500 million investment.
- Create a graduation fund to increase college graduation rates.
- Increase to $10,000 the college scholarship for those who participate in AmeriCorps full-time for one year.
- Get rid of the red tape in financial aid.
- Hold college costs down and hold colleges accountable for results though an online college cost calculator, a college graduation and employment rate index, and truth in tuition disclosure.
- Challenge selective colleges to expand access for students from low-income communities.
6 comments:
We just want to drop you a note of encouragement...this is a wonderful idea...we were reading on your other blog how this is something you are starting and we think these things need to be heard...we are looking forward to hearing more!
Have a blessed day!
smiles, kari & kijsa
Can I just say Prescription Reading from your doctor?! That has got to be a first. Don't worry you don't have to post this one.
Thanks for checking out my blog! I enjoy reading yours--nice, bite sized things that I can handle! I really hate politics most of the time. But I don't want to be an ostrich either.
Can we think of anymore programs that are unnecessary to add to our country's debt? Nurse home visits for new parents....the people who need those wouldn't be the people signing up for it.
And, although "The No Child Left Behind" needs a little updating and revamping, it has helped hold schools accountable.
4-year old preschool for everyone? Can we let them be kids just for a little while?
I'm not really sure what's so objectionable about the Clinton education plan. I'm not a Clinton supporter, but her overall plan seems as reasonable as any other candidate, and even more so to the extent she lays out more details than other plans. However, I think it's important to keep in mind that these kinds of policy statements are "wish lists" more than anything else. Any legislation enacted is likely to be significantly different than the original campaign plan, especially after the parties negotiate and compromise.
Overall, I think her emphasis on at-risk youth is worthwhile and would be worthy of more federal investment, especially considering that a many of these kids are stuck in under-funded schools and come from less than supportive families.
I hear what Melissa said and I'm going to have to take it a step farther. Institutionalizing (and therefore indoctrinating)children from the cradle to the grave and unrise to sunset (in the form of "before and after school programs") should not be encouraged or applauded in my book. It rips children out of their families to send them to school from 6am to 6pm--then it's pretty much dinner and bed, is it not? Oh, don't forget homework! Under her plan, not only are children managed and supervised by the government school system from birth but appearantly PARENTS are not to be trusted either and must be instructed in how to parent their children in the little time they get with them before they are shipped of to be raised by the school system.
Sad.
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