Education

I am deeply concerned by the deterioration of our nation’s public school system. Many of our children receive low-quality education that undermines their potential and threatens our society. I believe our policies should enable parents and local school districts to choose school programs and curriculum that best fit students’ needs.

The federal government’s well-intentioned efforts to regulate our nation’s public schools have contributed to problems within our educational system. Our great country is too large and too diverse for a one-size-fits-all approach to education. We must limit the role of the federal government in our classrooms to allow parents and teachers to act in students’ best interest. I also believe we should distribute federal spending in block grants with few or no strings attached.

We can also give parents and students more freedom in their educational choices by allowing alternatives—such as school vouchers, charter schools, on-line education, home schooling, and education savings accounts. A refundable tax credit, equal to the cost of educating a child in a public school, should be given to parents who opt for these alternative programs that cost nothing to the public school system. The increased competition with public schools would also incentivize progress and improvement. I oppose any attempts by unions to limit education choices through unfair regulations.
 

Major Education Legislation:

H.R. 5 Student Success Act
I voted in strong support of this bill that replaces the failed standards of No Child Left Behind with localized, state-led systems. This legislation frees K–12 education from Common Core curriculum, reauthorizes the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), and funds programs for disadvantaged students and Title I schools. Parents, educators, and individual school districts will be empowered under H.R. 5 to control their own path and ensure that students have the opportunities they need to succeed.
 

Cosponsored Education Legislation:

H.R. 3421 - A PLUS Act
I cosponsored this bill that would allow more financial freedom for individual states. This legislation, supported by the Heritage Foundation, would allow states to combine certain funds in order to improve students’ academic achievement. 

H.R. 1089 - Native American Indian Education Act
This legislation fulfills our nation’s promise to provide affordable higher education to Native Americans. H.R. 1089 instructs the Department of Education to reimburse educational institutions for tuition costs of Native American students. 

H.R. 5275 - PUBLIC School Act of 2016

H.R. 6433 - Protect the Flag Act