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Education
“Since education is the only proven way to reduce poverty, it is unacceptable that a child’s education is dependent on where they are born or the financial status of their family. The federal government spends about 2.9% of its budget on education. This must change. Quality education is a core American right and value. Schools need money to decrease class size, increase teacher’s salaries, renovate decaying facilities, and for pre-kindergarten and after-school programs.” - Dennis
Dennis' Education priorities include:
- Strong support for full funding of public education
- Universal, free, pre-kindergarten
- Fully funded Head Start
- Universal, free, high quality public education
- Universal, free, college education at public colleges and universities
- Better paid teachers
- Incentives for teachers to pursue master's degrees and PhDs
- Equipping all schools with modern technology
- Child nutrition programs
- Public health nurses staffing schools
- Full IDEA funding
- Rebuilding America's schools through a massive infrastructure program
- Emphasis on language skills
For grades K through 12, Dennis’ priorities are based on the bedrock principle of a free, universal, and high quality public education for every child in America. We cannot improve education by draining funding from our public schools.
We must improve the quality of public education in those schools that are struggling and expand public education to include pre-kindergarten beginning at age 3 for any families that want it, as well as tuition-free college for millions of students.
The education and well being of our nation's children are collective responsibilities that all Americans share, and education is a lifelong process beginning long before a child enters kindergarten. Studies have shown that the most critical cognitive development occurs in the years from birth to age 3. Dennis has been a leading advocate for early childhood education, with a special emphasis on the support and care of low-income infants and toddlers.
Dennis, a senior Democrat on the House Education and Labor Committee, introduced the Universal Pre-Kindergarten Act, a bill to create a free, universal, and voluntary pre-kindergarten program for 3- to 5-year-old children across the county. Universal pre-kindergarten would revolutionize America's commitment to early childhood education and change the nature of childcare provisions for the better.
Pre-kindergarten programs prepare children to meet the challenges of school. Studies show that young children who have access to a quality education benefit with higher academic achievements, increased graduation rates and decreased juvenile delinquency. Nationwide, there's a severe shortage of affordable, quality education programs. By providing universal pre-kindergarten, we are ensuring that all of our children are ready for school.