Education: What is your position on the No Child Left Behind Act adopted under President Bush and what single change to education policy would you make?
Wesley Clark: I will work to fully fund No Child Left Behind. We need to invest in hiring new teachers, training them, and retaining them instead of cutting the funding for the resources they need to teach our children–as the Bush administration has done.
I believe in lifetime education. I have proposed a plan to make preschool universal for all of our nation's 4-year olds, and a rising number of 3-year olds whose families want it.
It will also expand access to Head Start. We need to invest in recruiting and training, and retaining qualified teachers for K-12 education instead of cutting funding, as the Bush administration has done.
We must invest in school construction and renovation so that teachers and students have safe facilities in which to work and learn.
I am concerned that rising tuition has made it impossible for many students to attend college, so I have proposed a Universal College Grant program that would make college free for most students by providing a $6,000 grant.
On Vouchers
Howard Dean: No Child Left Behind sought to address racial and socioeconomic disparities in education and to improve accountability, but the law is unduly burdensome and deprives states of needed flexibility. I will rework unrealistic accountability standards so they do not punish schools that are doing well and will work to reduce the reliance on testing.
John Edwards: Quality teachers must be a top priority. I will raise teachers' salaries, particularly where they are needed most, and offer college scholarships to future teachers. I supported the No Child Left Behind Act, which is why I believe we need to fund the reforms promised in that act and fix the law to work with states.
I will invest in better teacher education and pay and offer scholarships to students willing to teach where they're needed most.
I will fix the No Child Left Behind Act by providing the resources George Bush promised and also make sure Washington pays its share of the costs. I will focus reforms on failing schools and give states flexibility to adopt the best reforms.
I will expand after school centers and early childhood education. I will offer excellent, voluntary preschool to 1 million children.
I will reform America's overlooked high schools. I will create smaller communities within schools so that no child falls through the cracks. I will also strengthen curriculum and ask colleges and universities to “adopt” struggling schools.
Rising tuition and student aid cuts are putting college out of reach for many families. I will offer students one year of tuition at a public college in exchange for working 10 hours a week.
On Vouchers
John Kerry: Bush broke the promise of No Child Left Behind by not giving schools the resources they need. I proposed a “National Education Trust Fund” to make sure that, for the first time, the federal government automatically fully funds our education so that schools can ensure all students meet high standards.
I will propose a “National Education Trust Fund” to make sure that, for the first time ever, the federal government meets its obligation to fully fund our education priorities. It's time to stop sending mandates from Washington to school districts without providing the resources needed to carry them out.
I have outlined reforms to the No Child Left Behind law to assure that our schools focus on teaching high standards to all children, and do not become drill and kill test prep institutions.
I'll fight for smaller class sizes and support for teachers so that they don't have to buy their own supplies or teach in dangerous buildings.
I'll ensure that young people have a place to go after school with increased funding and a new After-School tax credit to help millions of parents.
On Vouchers
