Democratic incumbent President; IL Senator (2004-2008):
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- We reformed schools in 46 states, with their governors. (Oct 2012)
- Recovery Act avoided layoffs; now hire more teachers. (Sep 2012)
- 100,000 new science & math teachers over the next decade. (Sep 2012)
- Educate to Innovate: new national STEM Master Teacher Corps. (Sep 2012)
- Educate to Innovate campaign: make US top in math & science. (Sep 2010)
- Quitting high school is quitting on your country. (Feb 2009)
- Invest in early childhood education and higher education. (Aug 2008)
- Fight for social & economic justice begins in the classroom. (Jul 2008)
- Make math & science policy a national priority. (Jul 2008)
- We need real commitment to education; instead we got NCLB. (Jun 2008)
- $10 billion to guarantee early childhood education for all. (Jun 2008)
- Evolution & science aren’t incompatible with Christian faith. (Apr 2008)
- Mother home-schooled Obama in English while in Indonesia. (Apr 2008)
- Children’s First Agenda: zero to five early education. (Feb 2008)
- Put billions of dollars into early childhood education. (Jan 2008)
- Need after-school and summer programs with good parenting. (Jan 2008)
- Get parents re-engaged in educating the children. (Dec 2007)
- Nationwide program to reconstruct crumbling school buildings. (Sep 2007)
- STEP UP: summer learning opportunities for disadvantaged. (Aug 2007)
- We left the money behind for No Child Left Behind. (Aug 2007)
- Supreme Court was wrong on school anti-integration ruling. (Jul 2007)
- Cut banks out and add $4.5 Billion to college loans. (Mar 2007)
- Guarantee affordable life-long, top-notch education. (Jun 2006)
- Sex education needed to help children discuss molestation. (Oct 2004)
- Provide decent funding and get rid of anti-intellectualism. (Jul 2004)
- Address the growing achievement gap between students. (May 2004)
- Will add 25,000 teachers in high-need areas. (May 2004)
College
- 2 million more slots in our community colleges. (Oct 2012)
- Cut out the middleman on student loans from banks. (Oct 2012)
- More education funding from early childhood thru Pell grants. (Sep 2012)
- Michelle: We were so young, so in love, and so in debt. (Sep 2012)
- Make community colleges into community career centers. (Jan 2012)
- Jobs today require at least a bachelor's degree. (Sep 2010)
- $10K college tax credit; forgive loans for public service. (Jan 2010)
- $2,500 tax credit for all four years of college. (Feb 2009)
- Refundable $4000 tax credit for community college tuition. (Aug 2008)
- To compete, students need at least H.S. & college degree. (Jun 2008)
- Pay for college education for those who commit to teaching. (Jun 2008)
- $4,000 college tuition for 100 hours’ public service a year. (Feb 2008)
Merit Incentives
- Romney education stances compared to Obama. (Jan 2012)
- FactCheck: Race to the Top has only rewarded 12 states. (Jan 2011)
- Race to the Top: reward innovation in public schools. (Jan 2011)
- Reward successful schools, instead of funding the status quo. (Jan 2010)
- Volunteer in your neighborhood & we help pay for college. (Feb 2009)
- Merit pay ok if based on career instead of a single test. (Apr 2008)
- Pay “master teachers” extra, but with buy-in from teachers. (Aug 2007)
- Incentives to hire a million teachers over next decade. (Jun 2007)
- Pay teachers more money & treat them like professionals. (Jun 2007)
- More teacher pay in exchange for more teacher accountability. (Oct 2006)
- Free public college for any student with B-average. (Jul 1998)
School Choice
- I doubled charter schools in Illinois; but no vouchers. (Oct 2008)
- Vouchers don’t solve the problems of our schools. (Oct 2008)
- FactCheck: McCain for national reforms & also DC vouchers. (Oct 2008)
- Supports charter schools; it’s important to experiment. (Feb 2008)
- We need a sense of urgency about improving education system. (Sep 2007)
- Sends kids to private school; but wants good schools for all. (Jul 2007)
- Public school system status quo is indefensible. (Oct 2006)
- Supports charter schools and private investment in schools. (Jul 1998)
Voting Record
- First Senate bill: increase Pell Grant from $4,050 to $5,100. (Aug 2007)
- Sponsored legislations that recruit and reward good teachers. (Sep 2004)
- Voted YES on $52M for "21st century community learning centers". (Oct 2005)
- Voted YES on $5B for grants to local educational agencies. (Oct 2005)
- Voted YES on shifting $11B from corporate tax loopholes to education. (Mar 2005)
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Written by
Pat Quinn on Education
Richard Durbin on Education
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