Issue Position: Education

Issue Position

Issue Position: Education

Senator Shaheen has been committed to improving K-12 and higher education for New Hampshire students throughout her career. As a former Dover school teacher, Senator Shaheen understands that a high quality public education is essential to the children of America. She believes that every child must have the education and skills necessary to compete in the global economy. As a State Senator and Governor, Jeanne Shaheen made it a priority to strengthen New Hampshire's schools. She continues that work in the United States Senate and is committed to strengthening our public education system to ensure that every child graduates from high school prepared to succeed in postsecondary education and the workforce.

No Child Left Behind

Senator Shaheen recognizes that the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) law has an admirable goal, which is to provide every child with access to an excellent education. But in too many cases NCLB has tied teachers' hands and punished schools when they needed help the most. And because the law was never adequately funded, it has been very difficult to implement and placed a serious financial burden on states and local communities across New Hampshire. In her short time in the Senate, Senator Shaheen has voted for significant increases in funding for NCLB and special education programs, to improve opportunities for New Hampshire's school children and provide relief to local property taxpayers. Senator Shaheen is committed to making sure No Child Left Behind works for our schools and teachers.

Early Childhood Education

Many economists agree that for every dollar invested in quality early childhood education, our economy receives $7 to $10 in return. Senator Shaheen understands the importance of this investment and throughout her career she has made it a priority to expand opportunities for young children. As Governor, she fought to expand public kindergarten, opening the door for an additional 25,000 children. To increase awareness about the importance of early learning, she launched a comprehensive statewide campaign that brought the business community to the table for the first time and formed the Business Partners for Early Learning. Since arriving in the Senate, Senator Shaheen has supported significant increases in funding for Head Start programs and quality child care.

Making College Affordable

For our nation to thrive, young people must be prepared to compete in a global economy -- and that means receiving quality higher education. But with soaring college costs it is becoming more and more difficult for middle class families to afford opportunities in higher education. In just the last ten years, the average cost of going to a public university has shot up 80%, and New Hampshire students graduate from college with the second highest average student debt in the nation. In the Senate, Senator Shaheen voted to provide families with a new $2,500 tax credit to help New Hampshire families send their children to college, and she fought to increase the maximum Pell Grant to $5,350 to help low-income students go to college next year. To further expand access to higher education, Senator Shaheen supports increasing the cap on federal guaranteed student loans simplifying and expanding existing tuition tax credits and expanding loan forgiveness for graduates who engage in public service.

Special Education

Senator Shaheen is committed is fully funding the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). She also voted for legislation that provided an additional $47.5 million for special education in New Hampshire.

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