Obama_2012
Really Really Experienced
- Joined
- Sep 14, 2010
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Education plays an integral role in a strong economy. President Obama has made critical investments and reforms that broaden educational opportunities for every American.
Mitt Romney is now trying to convince the American people that he has an education plan that ensures a “chance for every child.” But a look at his record and the budget plan he supports would jeopardize the education and economic future of millions of students.
When it comes to education, the contrast between President Obama’s and Romney’s record is clear. Here’s a breakdown of Romney’s record of undercutting education in Massachusetts, and how he would double down on his failed ideas if elected president.
K-12 education
Mitt Romney:
Education funding: Romney has consistently opposed investment in education, declaring in 1994 that “we don’t need to spend more on education.” [Boston Globe, 10/12/94] As Massachusetts Governor, Romney closed a $1.2 billion budget shortfall partly by slashing millions in funding for K-12 education, shifting “at least part of the tax burden onto towns and counties.” In fact, the draconian cuts from his first year in office resulted in the layoff of 14,500 teachers, police officers, librarians, and others.
School improvement: By Romney’s second year as governor, Massachusetts schools saw one of the largest percentage cuts in the nation on a per-pupil basis, forcing school districts to cut staff, increase class sizes, and raise fees. In fact, Romney actively opposes small classes sizes—in his book, he called it “non-reform reform,” and even claimed efforts to reduce class sizes “may actually hurt education more than it helps.”
President Obama
Education funding: The President implemented the Race to the Top program, the largest-ever competitive investment in school reform. For less than 1 percent of total education spending nationwide, 19 states received Race to the Top funding, benefiting 22 million students. Designed to encourage and reward states that close achievement gaps and improve high school graduation rates and college preparation, Race to the Top has shown it can be “a powerful spur to innovation in education.”
School improvement: The Obama administration offered states greater flexibility, and has already granted waivers to 11 states from No Child Left Behind as long as states show that “they will prepare children for college and careers, set new targets for improving achievement among all students, develop meaningful teacher and principal evaluation systems, [and] reward the best performing schools and focus help on the ones doing the worst.” The plan “strikes a new balance between the federal and state roles” in education.
Higher Education
Mitt Romney:
Student loans: Romney would enact the Ryan budget plan that would allow student loan rates to double in July, costing students an average of $1,000. As a presidential candidate, Romney “has no specific plan to address student loans, according to his policy director.”
College tuition: As Governor, Romney cut about $140 million from higher education, forcing state universities to raise fees by 63 percent to cover the deep budget cuts. By the end of Romney’s term, Massachusetts community colleges cost 59 percent more than the national average, while four-year public colleges cost 34 percent more. As a candidate, Romney’s only advice to students struggling to afford college was to “shop around” or “borrow money if you have to from your parents.”
Student aid: By the end of Romney’s term, the Massachusetts Higher Education Task Force recommended a significant increase in need-based aid, to combat a 22 percent five-year decline. And now, the budget plan Romney supports now “would drastically cut federal student aid, causing roughly a million students to lose their Pell Grants.” Romney continues to argue that student aid does nothing but result in higher tuition.
President Obama:
Student loans: The President understands the burden of student loans, having worked to pay off his own student debts. He capped income-based federal student loan payments at 10 percent of monthly income and is pushing Congress to stop federal student loan interest rates from doubling on July 1st for over 7 million students.
College tuition: The President’s proposed a plan that rewards states that curb higher education costs and rewards colleges that can successfully offer lower tuition prices.
Student aid: President Obama doubled funding for Pell Grants so an additional 3.7 million students would get college aid and created the American Opportunity Tax Credit, worth up to $10,000 for up to four years of college.
Republican Governors, including Gov. Chris Christie, Gov. Bob McDonnell, and Gov. Bill Haslam, have praised President Obama’s efforts to reform and invest in education. Whatever Romney’s rhetoric, the contrast between the President and Romney is clear. While the President prioritizes education, Romney economics would prioritize tax cuts for the wealthy few over investments in our future.
Mitt Romney is now trying to convince the American people that he has an education plan that ensures a “chance for every child.” But a look at his record and the budget plan he supports would jeopardize the education and economic future of millions of students.
When it comes to education, the contrast between President Obama’s and Romney’s record is clear. Here’s a breakdown of Romney’s record of undercutting education in Massachusetts, and how he would double down on his failed ideas if elected president.
K-12 education
Mitt Romney:
Education funding: Romney has consistently opposed investment in education, declaring in 1994 that “we don’t need to spend more on education.” [Boston Globe, 10/12/94] As Massachusetts Governor, Romney closed a $1.2 billion budget shortfall partly by slashing millions in funding for K-12 education, shifting “at least part of the tax burden onto towns and counties.” In fact, the draconian cuts from his first year in office resulted in the layoff of 14,500 teachers, police officers, librarians, and others.
School improvement: By Romney’s second year as governor, Massachusetts schools saw one of the largest percentage cuts in the nation on a per-pupil basis, forcing school districts to cut staff, increase class sizes, and raise fees. In fact, Romney actively opposes small classes sizes—in his book, he called it “non-reform reform,” and even claimed efforts to reduce class sizes “may actually hurt education more than it helps.”
President Obama
Education funding: The President implemented the Race to the Top program, the largest-ever competitive investment in school reform. For less than 1 percent of total education spending nationwide, 19 states received Race to the Top funding, benefiting 22 million students. Designed to encourage and reward states that close achievement gaps and improve high school graduation rates and college preparation, Race to the Top has shown it can be “a powerful spur to innovation in education.”
School improvement: The Obama administration offered states greater flexibility, and has already granted waivers to 11 states from No Child Left Behind as long as states show that “they will prepare children for college and careers, set new targets for improving achievement among all students, develop meaningful teacher and principal evaluation systems, [and] reward the best performing schools and focus help on the ones doing the worst.” The plan “strikes a new balance between the federal and state roles” in education.
Higher Education
Mitt Romney:
Student loans: Romney would enact the Ryan budget plan that would allow student loan rates to double in July, costing students an average of $1,000. As a presidential candidate, Romney “has no specific plan to address student loans, according to his policy director.”
College tuition: As Governor, Romney cut about $140 million from higher education, forcing state universities to raise fees by 63 percent to cover the deep budget cuts. By the end of Romney’s term, Massachusetts community colleges cost 59 percent more than the national average, while four-year public colleges cost 34 percent more. As a candidate, Romney’s only advice to students struggling to afford college was to “shop around” or “borrow money if you have to from your parents.”
Student aid: By the end of Romney’s term, the Massachusetts Higher Education Task Force recommended a significant increase in need-based aid, to combat a 22 percent five-year decline. And now, the budget plan Romney supports now “would drastically cut federal student aid, causing roughly a million students to lose their Pell Grants.” Romney continues to argue that student aid does nothing but result in higher tuition.
President Obama:
Student loans: The President understands the burden of student loans, having worked to pay off his own student debts. He capped income-based federal student loan payments at 10 percent of monthly income and is pushing Congress to stop federal student loan interest rates from doubling on July 1st for over 7 million students.
College tuition: The President’s proposed a plan that rewards states that curb higher education costs and rewards colleges that can successfully offer lower tuition prices.
Student aid: President Obama doubled funding for Pell Grants so an additional 3.7 million students would get college aid and created the American Opportunity Tax Credit, worth up to $10,000 for up to four years of college.
Republican Governors, including Gov. Chris Christie, Gov. Bob McDonnell, and Gov. Bill Haslam, have praised President Obama’s efforts to reform and invest in education. Whatever Romney’s rhetoric, the contrast between the President and Romney is clear. While the President prioritizes education, Romney economics would prioritize tax cuts for the wealthy few over investments in our future.
