Education is the key to freedom. As an educator for more than 40 years, I saw firsthand how a good education can change the course of a student’s life, regardless of their race, religion, or economic circumstances. But right now, K-12 education in the U.S. is stagnating: we’re 37th in the world in math and 13th in reading. That’s simply not good enough for the most powerful country in the world.
We need to make more quality education options available for students that fit their unique needs and unlock their God-given potential, rather than force everyone into a one-size-fits-all system.
On the higher education side, our country needs to do a much better job of preparing students to enter the workforce. That starts by recognizing not everyone needs to attend a traditional four-year college, but everyone has the right to an opportunity. Career and technical education programs like dual enrollment and apprenticeships should be recognized as the respectable paths for opportunity that they are, not treated as second-rate. I will continue to advocate for workforce development as a means to increasing opportunities and spurring economic growth. I’m committed to working with my colleagues to promote and invest in the educational programs that will open up the doors of opportunity and equip students with the skills they need to succeed in 21st-century jobs.
When it comes to school sports, we need to make sure the Title IX rights of women and girls are protected. Title IX is the single best contributor to the growth of women’s’ and girls’ sports at every level, but it’s under assault from progressive activists and government bureaucrats. I’ll always fight to protect the integrity of women’s and girls’ sports so they can have the same opportunities afforded to their male counterparts.
My first speech as a U.S. Senator highlighted my desire to focus on improving education for all students and set them up for success in and out of the classroom. WATCH
School choice ensures all students have access to the same educational opportunities, regardless of their zip code. That is why I have taken action while serving on the U.S. Senate Help, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee to expand school choice for students.
State and local governments are better equipped than the federal government to tailor education programs to meet the needs of the children they serve. As a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pension Committee, my goal is to advance legislation that gets the federal government out of the way.
Education is the key to opportunity and freedom. Students attend school to be taught “how” to think, not “what” they should think. Taxpayer dollars should not go toward funding divisive curriculum in the classrooms that teaches students to hate our country. This is why I have pushed back against the left’s attempts to push biased and divisive agendas on our students.
As a former coach, I have seen the positive impact of Title IX in women’s sports. We must keep Title IX protections in place for current and future female athletes to have the same opportunities as their male counterparts. I’ve stepped up as a leader in the U.S. Senate on the preservation of Title IX protections for female athletes.