Tom Garrett on Education

Supports school choice: public, private, or home school

The father of two, Tom stands wants to provide the best possible education for our children, be it in public, private, or home school. That's why Tom supports school choice, and why he thinks parents should have the final say in how their children are educated, not Richmond or Washington.

The Department of Education has presided over the long slow decline of our education system. Our children deserve better than to have edu-crats in D.C. micromanaging every aspect of their education. Tom will support efforts to reduce, roll-back, or eliminate the Department of Education and its onerous demands.

Student Security: $7000 in loans, deferring Social Security

In short, the proposal allows for individuals who currently hold student loan debt to have $5-7,000 of that debt forgiven for every year that that student agrees to defer Social Security disbursements.

With the student debt burden in this nation approaching $1.5 Trillion dollars, if implemented properly, this program will immediately make Social Security solvent again. In addition, younger people will immediately have more capital to invest in homes, cars, and starting families which will be a tremendous boost to the economy.

Tom Garrett is adamant about not breaking promises already made, but instead changing future ones. This proposal will allow individuals to make a choice about what is best for themselves and their own financial future.

Constitutional amendment for charter schools

Legislative Outcome:: Sen. Garrett voted YEA; introduced Dec 9, 2015; failed Senate 19-21-0, on Feb. 15, 2016.

Right to religious student groups & voluntary school prayer

• voluntarily pray or engage in religious expression before, during, and after the school day;
• organize prayer groups before, during, and after school to the same extent that students are permitted to organize other activities & groups; and
• wear clothing or accessories that displays religious symbols to the same extent that other types of clothing or accessories are permitted.

Legislative Outcome:: Sen. Garrett voted YEA; passed Senate 20-18-0, on Jan. 21; passed House 64-34-2, on Feb. 26; vetoed by Gov. McAuliffe on April 7.

Supports vouchers to let parents choose public or private school.

The Christian Coalition Voter Guide inferred whether candidates agree or disagree with the statement, 'Education vouchers that allow parents to choose a public or private school for their children' The Christian Coalition notes, "You can help make sure that voters have the facts BEFORE they cast their votes. We have surveyed candidates in the most competitive congressional races on the issues that are important to conservatives."

Opposes states adopting federal education standards.

The Project Vote Smart Voter Guide inferred how candidates would respond to the question, 'Education: Do you generally support requiring states to adopt federal education standards?' Project Vote Smart notes, "in response to the increasing unwillingness of candidates to answer issue questions, Project Vote Smart has researched Congressional candidates' public records to determine candidates' likely responses on certain key issues. These issue positions, from the year 2016, are provided [for candidates who] refused to provide voters with positions on key issues covered by the 2016 Political Courage Test, despite repeated requests. Historically, candidates have failed to complete our test due to the advice they receive from their parties and advisors and out of fear of negative attack ads."