May 18, 2008
Education
Senator Wyden believes that every student deserves a good education that provides them with the knowledge, skills, and training necessary to succeed. Education represents a critical investment in America’s future competitiveness in the global marketplace. Guided by these core beliefs, Senator Wyden has been a longtime advocate of strengthening America’s education system.
Early Education
Early education is crucial to ensuring that every student realizes his or her potential. This is why Senator Wyden is such a strong supporter of programs like Head Start. As a member of the Senate Budget Committee, Senator Wyden is working to dramatically increase funding for this vital program that helps fulfill the needs of low-income preschool children.No Child Left Behind
Senator Wyden voted for the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB) with the understanding that the President would fully fund his flagship education initiative. Unfortunately, the Administration has decided to under-fund NCLB, and if enacted, the President’s 2008 budget proposal would bring the cumulative total funding shortfall to $70 billion. In the 110th Congress, Senator Wyden is fighting to increase funding for NCLB and, as the reauthorization process gets underway, he will be paying careful attention to ensure that needed reforms are enacted. For instance, NCLB school assessments must be fairer and the law should allow states to adopt growth modeling assessment tools like the one proposed by Oregon. The law must also recognize the unique challenges faced by rural communities. Although standards and assessments are critical to ensuring that students succeed, they must be fair and supported by federal funding.The Cost of Higher Education
Senator Wyden is concerned by the rapid rise in the cost of higher education. This trend is making it impossible for many Americans to attend college and is saddling those who do with more and more debt. As one of his first actions in the 110th Congress, Senator Wyden voted to raise the Pell Grant maximum to $4,310. More remains to be done, and Senator Wyden will continue to look for opportunities to make college more affordable for all Americans.Share Your Views with Senator Wyden
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