Before next Tuesday’s presidential election, the National Education Writers Association has published some clarification of the candidates’ differences in Education Policy. The following is a summary for your information:
| Romney | Obama |
| Would rescind NCLB waivers, reauthorize NCLB, and allow NCLB pre-waiver laws to be enforced in the interim | Would reauthorize NCLB, but allow the approved state waivers to replace the accountability plan if approved |
| Says he supports pre-k, but cut pre-k funding and vetoed a bill that would’ve allocated $10M to expand pre-k in Massachusetts | Says he’ll ‘redouble’ his commitment to pre-k, and continue providing the opportunity for its expansion through Race to The Top |
| Would re-route funds for financially-needy and special-education students from schools to parents to help them pay for private schools of their choice (via vouchers) | Does not support the voucher concept, but supports charter school concept and any opportunities to expand school choice for parents. Also supports the increased investment in public school education reform |
| Says he will not cut education, but has not stated plans to increase its funding | Asking for $1B to train new STEM teachers, hire more teachers, new school construction projects and 1st-responders |
| Calls for colleges to slow tuition increases. Says he will keep the Pell Grant program growing, although his running mate’s proposed budget cuts discretionary spending by 19%, a line item that includes Pell Grants | Calls for colleges to slow/cease tuition hikes. He has steadily increased the funds to the Pell Grant program, while reducing the number of students receiving the maximum grant award. |
| Will reverse the Obama administration’s moves that resulted in the expansion of college aid – Romney would return to the former model of private banks receiving fees from the students and the government for administering student loans | Ended the relationship with financial institutions, saving money for students and the government, which were paying the banks to manage the loans. |
| Supports tying teacher performance with pay. Does not have the support of teacher unions because his of past anti-union remarks. | Supports tying teacher performance with pay. Retains union support. |
| Supports Common Core State Standards, but often incorrectly describes it as a ‘federal initiative’ which draws bipartisan criticism of Romney | Supports Common Core State Standards and describes it correctly as a state collaboration initiative |
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