Thursday, October 23, 2008
Education Policy: McCain and Obama
From CQ Politics, a comparison of the Obama and McCain education initiatives.
Welcome to CQ Politics' guide to the policy positions, voting behavior and public statements of Barack Obama and John McCain. Notes, Votes and Quotes provides a serious and non-partisan examination of Obama and McCain's stands on the key issues of the day; what they propose to do as president; how they have voted in the Senate, according to CQ's unparalleled coverage of congressional voting behavior; and what they have said about these issues. We'll continue to add new issues until the election, so check back regularly.
Education
NOTES: Obama's education proposals include increasing funding for Head Start; amending the Bush administration education law known as "No Child Left Behind"; doubling funding for federal charter schools; recruiting new teachers, particularly in math and the sciences; and offering a $4,000 college tuition credit for any recipient who agrees to complete 100 hours of community service.
NOTES: McCain supports increased school choice proposals, including a voucher system. He would pay bonuses to teachers who agree to work in the most troubled schools. He supports alternative routes to teacher certification. McCain says his proposals would give more control to parents, teachers and principals.
VOTES: Obama in 2007 was one of 79 senators who voted for a bill to cut government subsidies to student loan firms by about $20 billion and redirect most of the money to aid for students and college graduates. The bill also increased the maximum Pell grant award by $1,090 over five years. McCain missed the vote. (Senate Roll Call Vote 326, Sept. 7, 2007)
VOTES: McCain in 2001 voted for No Child Left Behind, as did 86 other senators. Obama was not a U.S. senator at the time. (Senate Roll Call Vote 371, Dec. 18, 2001)
McCain in 1998 was one of 59 senators who voted for to allow individuals to contribute up to $2,000 a year of after-tax funds in tax-sheltered savings accounts to use to pay educational expenses. (Senate Roll Call Vote 169, June 24, 1998)
QUOTES: "This probably has more to do with our economic future than anything and that means it also has a national security implication, because there's never been a nation on earth that saw its economy decline and continued to maintain its primacy as a military power. So we've got to get our education system right. Now, typically, what's happened is that there's been a debate between more money or reform, and I think we need both." (Barack Obama at 3rd presidential debate in Hempstead, N.Y., Oct. 15, 2008)
"So what I want to do is focus on early childhood education, providing teachers higher salaries in exchange for more support. ... Charter schools, I doubled the number of charter schools in Illinois despite some reservations from teachers unions. I think it's important to foster competition inside the public schools." (Barack Obama at 3rd presidential debate in Hempstead, N.Y., Oct. 15, 2008)
"Where we disagree is on the idea tha we can somehow give out vouchers -- give vouchers as a way of securing the problems in our education system." (Barack Obama at 3rd presidential debate in Hempstead, N.Y., Oct. 15, 2008)
"The main components of my education agenda at the federal level are to, number one, adequately fund federal mandates like No Child Left Behind or special education, to free up resources at local school levels so that they can do more with the money that they have. Number two, to provide billions of dollars in funding for early childhood education programs, so that kids are getting prepared when they start school. Number three, providing additional money to hire, retain and train excellent teachers, which is probably the single biggest determinant as to whether children do well in school." (Barack Obama remarks at campaign event in Zanesville, Ohio, July 1, 2008)
QUOTES: "Now as far as the No Child Left Behind is concerned, it was a great first beginning in my view. It had its flaws, it had its problems, the first time we had looked at the issue of education in America from a nationwide perspective. And we need to fix a lot of the problems. We need to sit down and reauthorize it." (John McCain at 3rd presidential debate in Hempstead, N.Y., Oct. 15, 2008)
"Education is the civil rights issue of this century. Equal access to public education has been gained, but what is the value of access to a failing school? We need to shake up failed school bureaucracies with competition, empower parents with choice. Let's remove barriers to qualified instructors, attract and reward good teachers, and help bad teachers find another line of work." (John McCain acceptance speech at Republican National Convention, Sept. 4, 2008)
"When a public school fails, repeatedly, to meet these minimal objectives, parents ask only for a choice in the education of their children. Some parents may choose a better public school. Some may choose a private school. Many will choose a charter school. No entrenched bureaucracy or union should deny parents that choice and children that opportunity." (John McCain remarks to National Urban League National Conference, Aug. 1, 2008)
"We need training -- job training and education programs for those that have lost their jobs and those that are in danger of losing their jobs, training and education programs that work. And there are training and education programs that work, utilizing our community colleges to help those people get back into the economy." (John McCain remarks at campaign event in Miami, Fla., June 6, 2008)
Welcome to CQ Politics' guide to the policy positions, voting behavior and public statements of Barack Obama and John McCain. Notes, Votes and Quotes provides a serious and non-partisan examination of Obama and McCain's stands on the key issues of the day; what they propose to do as president; how they have voted in the Senate, according to CQ's unparalleled coverage of congressional voting behavior; and what they have said about these issues. We'll continue to add new issues until the election, so check back regularly.
Education
NOTES: Obama's education proposals include increasing funding for Head Start; amending the Bush administration education law known as "No Child Left Behind"; doubling funding for federal charter schools; recruiting new teachers, particularly in math and the sciences; and offering a $4,000 college tuition credit for any recipient who agrees to complete 100 hours of community service.
NOTES: McCain supports increased school choice proposals, including a voucher system. He would pay bonuses to teachers who agree to work in the most troubled schools. He supports alternative routes to teacher certification. McCain says his proposals would give more control to parents, teachers and principals.
VOTES: Obama in 2007 was one of 79 senators who voted for a bill to cut government subsidies to student loan firms by about $20 billion and redirect most of the money to aid for students and college graduates. The bill also increased the maximum Pell grant award by $1,090 over five years. McCain missed the vote. (Senate Roll Call Vote 326, Sept. 7, 2007)
VOTES: McCain in 2001 voted for No Child Left Behind, as did 86 other senators. Obama was not a U.S. senator at the time. (Senate Roll Call Vote 371, Dec. 18, 2001)
McCain in 1998 was one of 59 senators who voted for to allow individuals to contribute up to $2,000 a year of after-tax funds in tax-sheltered savings accounts to use to pay educational expenses. (Senate Roll Call Vote 169, June 24, 1998)
QUOTES: "This probably has more to do with our economic future than anything and that means it also has a national security implication, because there's never been a nation on earth that saw its economy decline and continued to maintain its primacy as a military power. So we've got to get our education system right. Now, typically, what's happened is that there's been a debate between more money or reform, and I think we need both." (Barack Obama at 3rd presidential debate in Hempstead, N.Y., Oct. 15, 2008)
"So what I want to do is focus on early childhood education, providing teachers higher salaries in exchange for more support. ... Charter schools, I doubled the number of charter schools in Illinois despite some reservations from teachers unions. I think it's important to foster competition inside the public schools." (Barack Obama at 3rd presidential debate in Hempstead, N.Y., Oct. 15, 2008)
"Where we disagree is on the idea tha we can somehow give out vouchers -- give vouchers as a way of securing the problems in our education system." (Barack Obama at 3rd presidential debate in Hempstead, N.Y., Oct. 15, 2008)
"The main components of my education agenda at the federal level are to, number one, adequately fund federal mandates like No Child Left Behind or special education, to free up resources at local school levels so that they can do more with the money that they have. Number two, to provide billions of dollars in funding for early childhood education programs, so that kids are getting prepared when they start school. Number three, providing additional money to hire, retain and train excellent teachers, which is probably the single biggest determinant as to whether children do well in school." (Barack Obama remarks at campaign event in Zanesville, Ohio, July 1, 2008)
QUOTES: "Now as far as the No Child Left Behind is concerned, it was a great first beginning in my view. It had its flaws, it had its problems, the first time we had looked at the issue of education in America from a nationwide perspective. And we need to fix a lot of the problems. We need to sit down and reauthorize it." (John McCain at 3rd presidential debate in Hempstead, N.Y., Oct. 15, 2008)
"Education is the civil rights issue of this century. Equal access to public education has been gained, but what is the value of access to a failing school? We need to shake up failed school bureaucracies with competition, empower parents with choice. Let's remove barriers to qualified instructors, attract and reward good teachers, and help bad teachers find another line of work." (John McCain acceptance speech at Republican National Convention, Sept. 4, 2008)
"When a public school fails, repeatedly, to meet these minimal objectives, parents ask only for a choice in the education of their children. Some parents may choose a better public school. Some may choose a private school. Many will choose a charter school. No entrenched bureaucracy or union should deny parents that choice and children that opportunity." (John McCain remarks to National Urban League National Conference, Aug. 1, 2008)
"We need training -- job training and education programs for those that have lost their jobs and those that are in danger of losing their jobs, training and education programs that work. And there are training and education programs that work, utilizing our community colleges to help those people get back into the economy." (John McCain remarks at campaign event in Miami, Fla., June 6, 2008)
State Budget Cutting
From the Inquirer. Can cuts in K-12 funding be far behind?
Pa. universities facing budget cuts
By Susan Snyder Inquirer Staff Writer Posted on Thu, Oct. 23, 2008
The 14 universities in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, including West Chester and Cheyney, will be faced with some unexpected budget slashing in the coming months, courtesy of the cash-strapped state.
The state system's board today is expected to approve a request from Gov. Rendell to give back 4.25 percent, or about $22 million, of its state appropriation for 2008-09, which was $498.5 million.
Looking to next year, the board is also expected to put the state on notice that it will need a 5.7 percent hike in funding over the current year. The funding request is part of a proposed 2009-10 budget that the state system is required to submit to the state by Oct. 31. Under that proposed budget, the state system would increase tuition by 4 percent.
State system spokesman Kenn Marshall said the numbers were preliminary, and the state board won't vote on a tuition hike until July, after the state budget is approved.
The state system's committee approved the numbers even though economic troubles are looming.
"The feeling of the board is we needed to ask for what we needed. It's important that the legislature and governor's office knows this is what we really need to operate," Marshall said.
Earlier this month Rendell ordered a number of austerity measures to keep Pennsylvania's budget balanced, including directing cabinet secretaries to trim their spending by 4.25 percent.
State-related institutions, including Pennsylvania State University, the University of Pittsburgh, Lincoln University and Temple University, were also asked to plan for 4.25 percent cuts in their state funding this year.
Temple announced it would institute a hiring freeze and restrict travel in response. Penn State will not fill positions, will hold off on equipment purchases, and will ask all departments to look for other efficiencies.
The state system universities will need to forego hires, defer maintenance, or make other cuts, Marshall said.
"It will be up to each university to decide how they do it," he said.
West Chester, one of the largest universities in the system, will lose about $2.4 million, and Cheyney, already struggling financially, will see a drop of $680,000. Indiana University of Pennsylvania, the largest in the state system, will see the biggest fall - $2.7 million.
While Rendell asked the schools only to plan for a possible cut at this point, officials expect it will occur "unless things really turn around very quickly," Marshall said.
Pa. universities facing budget cuts
By Susan Snyder Inquirer Staff Writer Posted on Thu, Oct. 23, 2008
The 14 universities in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, including West Chester and Cheyney, will be faced with some unexpected budget slashing in the coming months, courtesy of the cash-strapped state.
The state system's board today is expected to approve a request from Gov. Rendell to give back 4.25 percent, or about $22 million, of its state appropriation for 2008-09, which was $498.5 million.
Looking to next year, the board is also expected to put the state on notice that it will need a 5.7 percent hike in funding over the current year. The funding request is part of a proposed 2009-10 budget that the state system is required to submit to the state by Oct. 31. Under that proposed budget, the state system would increase tuition by 4 percent.
State system spokesman Kenn Marshall said the numbers were preliminary, and the state board won't vote on a tuition hike until July, after the state budget is approved.
The state system's committee approved the numbers even though economic troubles are looming.
"The feeling of the board is we needed to ask for what we needed. It's important that the legislature and governor's office knows this is what we really need to operate," Marshall said.
Earlier this month Rendell ordered a number of austerity measures to keep Pennsylvania's budget balanced, including directing cabinet secretaries to trim their spending by 4.25 percent.
State-related institutions, including Pennsylvania State University, the University of Pittsburgh, Lincoln University and Temple University, were also asked to plan for 4.25 percent cuts in their state funding this year.
Temple announced it would institute a hiring freeze and restrict travel in response. Penn State will not fill positions, will hold off on equipment purchases, and will ask all departments to look for other efficiencies.
The state system universities will need to forego hires, defer maintenance, or make other cuts, Marshall said.
"It will be up to each university to decide how they do it," he said.
West Chester, one of the largest universities in the system, will lose about $2.4 million, and Cheyney, already struggling financially, will see a drop of $680,000. Indiana University of Pennsylvania, the largest in the state system, will see the biggest fall - $2.7 million.
While Rendell asked the schools only to plan for a possible cut at this point, officials expect it will occur "unless things really turn around very quickly," Marshall said.
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