When asked to name a person who has made a difference in one’s life, the most common response, other than a family member, is that of a favorite teacher. This simple response speaks volumes about the influence educators have on the lives of young people.
Education is a noble profession and for a long time I have been worried about the negative burdens that the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) has placed upon educators and schools. While I voted against NCLB in 2002, I understand that there is currently enough support in Congress to continue this law. Therefore, I want to make sure there are common sense solutions on the table as discussions are held about how to improve NCLB.
After many conversations with teachers and administrators around the State, I felt compelled to draft legislation that would correct some of the most glaring problems with NCLB’s design. I introduced H.R.2166, the Practicality in Education Act, to fix some of these deficiencies. To support the legislation, I testified before the Education and Labor Committee last summer about Kansas’s experience with NCLB and I offered some suggestions on how to make this legislation more practical and effective. My hope is that elements of the Practicality in Education Act can be put into the NCLB reauthorization bill in the future.
Outside of NCLB, I have also worked to support various proposals to help recruit teachers into Kansas schools and to make it easier for lower income Kansans to attend college. The College Cost Reduction Act reduces student loan interest rates and increases federal grants for Kansas students. The legislation cuts interest rates in half for subsidized student loans and increases the maximum Pell grant award by $1,090. In addition to lowering the costs associated with college, the legislation also establishes loan forgiveness programs for individuals who work in public service jobs. My hope is that reduced interest rates and higher grant awards will help more Kansans have access to a college degree.
I also supported the Collegiate Housing and Infrastructure Act. The Collegiate Housing and Infrastructure Act would allow not-for-profit student housing organizations like fraternities and sororities to use tax-deductible charitable contributions to improve and upgrade their housing.
I will continue my work to ensure that the federal government has a limited role in our Kansas classrooms and that programs that are helpful to Kansas teachers and students receive the appropriate level of funding.
