To restore America’s promise, and get Americans working again, we must achieve meaningful reform in our education system
Education has always been central to the American Dream. Sadly, today that American Dream too often represents only a dream. In many corners of the nation, children have no access to an effective school that can give them the opportunity they deserve. Across the nation, a school system is a world leader in spending yet lags on virtually every measure of results. Higher education is becoming at once more important and more unaffordable than ever, stretching family finances and producing new graduates who have
Republican Side
When President Obama speaks to young people about his vision for their future, he invariably forgets to mention that, during his four years as president, their debt has risen and their chances of finding a job have declined. President Obama’s attempts to address the skyrocketing cost of college have backfired. He has given up on reform and seeks only to borrow and spend more and more of the next generation’s money — claiming to help them today and then sending them the bill tomorrow. Under this approach, the cost of a college education has risen by 25 percent, and student debt has reached a record $1 trillion.
President Obama’s misguided economic policies have set back an entire generation of young Americans. Those graduating from high school and college over the last several years have faced one of the worst job markets in the nation’s history. More than half of all recent college graduates are jobless or underemployed.
As president, Mitt Romney will pursue genuine education reform that puts the interests of parents and students ahead of special interests and provides a chance for every child
(1) such alternatives must exist
(2) parents must receive clear information about the performance of their current school and of the alternatives,
(3) students must be allowed to move to a new school
(4) students must bring funding with them so that new schools can afford to serve them. Mitt’s reforms achieve each of these objectives:
As a summary of Mitt Romney's plan, we see an increase of help provided to the k-12 school levels, an increase of profit of schools as well.
Democratic Side
"Since day one, President Obama has set our nation on a forward course through stronger schools and better teachers. But as we’re seeing out on the campaign trail – and through his record as governor, Mitt Romney would take us backward and undo all the progress we’ve made for millions of African-American students."
-Melody Barnes
Democrats contend that Ryan's budget proposal, which failed to pass the Democratic-controlled Senate, would cut $115 billion from the Education Department, costing 1 million college students their Pell Grants over the next decade. Democrats argue those moves would punish many middle class and low income families trying to gain an education.
Those estimates, however, assume the cuts in Romney's budget are applied evenly across all programs starting in 2014 — something Ryan aides say would not happen. His budget does not directly address Pell Grant funding, and his aides say the cuts would not take a one-size-fits-all approach.
Romney, who prefers that students take loans instead of receiving grants, would keep the top Pell Grant award in the coming school year at $5,500 but in future years reduce the number of students eligible, not the award sums. In other words, fewer students would receive them but the neediest would not see their awards changed.
More than 9.7 million students are expected to get grants for the academic year that is about to begin.
Mr Obama said his record of "investing in education" contrasted with what he his campaign says are Republican plans to cut education budgets by up to 20 per cent, causing a million students to lose scholarships and 10 million more to see cuts in their Financial Aid.
Ohio is a key battleground state that Mr Obama will almost certainly need to carry if he is to win November's election. He currently holds a wafer-thin 1.8 per cent lead in an aggregate of recent polls in the state.
