“ First, I will promote increased choice and innovation, specifically by allowing the parents of low-income and special needs students to choose the school they attend and bring federal funding with them. This plan will allow the student to choose from any district or public charter school, or a private school where permitted by state law, or to use funds toward a tutoring provider or digital course. Additionally, my policies will encourage states to eliminate caps on charter and digital schools to provide more options for parents. Secondly, my policies would ensure high standards and responsibility for results by providing better information for parents through public report cards that evaluate each school on its contribution to student learning. Thirdly, I will support states in recruiting and rewarding great teachers. I believe that by providing increased choice, more accessible information for parents, and ensuring that every child has a great teacher, we can truly make a difference in the lives of America’s students. All parties – local, state, and federal entities, including unions – should work to put the interests of students first to ensure they get the best education possible. ”

“ A good education cannot be a luxury reserved for a few – it’s an economic imperative that serves as a gateway to good-paying jobs, a strong middle class, and a workforce that out-innovates the rest of the world. That’s why President Obama doubled funding for Pell Grants and increased the number of recipients by over 50 percent, providing nearly 10 million students today with critical support for college. He’s made smart investments to spur states to raise academic standards so students are better prepared to succeed in college and career, and created a new college tax credit to help middle class families afford college tuition.

President Obama believes that education is a gateway to a middle-class life. He will recruit 100,000 math and science teachers, give 2 million workers a chance to learn skills at their community college that lead to jobs that exist, and cut in half the growth of tuition costs over the next decade.
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