Gotham Gazette

The Place for New York Policy and politics

Education

Urban Issues: Education


URBAN ISSUES - EDUCATION
Higher Education
No Child Left Behind
Vouchers

• • • • • • •

John Edwards

Edwards proposes paying the college tuition for recent graduates who agree to teach for five years in low scoring urban schools. Edwards also wants to give one year of free college tuition in return for 10 hours of community service a week.

Edwards would reform the No Child Left Behind program, which requires standards of academic achievement. Schools that do not perform are placed on a "schools in need of improvement" list and students are entitled to transfer to a better school. If a school appears on the list for two years, low-income students are entitled to free tutoring services. Edwards would provide more money to meet the requirements. He would also expand after-school programs and offer preschool to 1 million children. He plans to double the federal government’s $3 billion program that trains educators for school districts with a shortage of teachers.

Edwards opposes vouchers for private schools.

John Kerry

Kerry proposes several programs to help pay for college. His Ready for College program would triple the tax credit to $4,000 for college tuition. He also supports a program that would provide full college tuition in exchange for two years of community service.

Kerry would reform the No Child Left Behind program, which requires standards of academic achievement. Schools that do not perform are placed on a "schools in need of improvement" list and students are entitled to transfer to a better school. If a school appears on the list for two years, low-income students are entitled to free tutoring services. Edwards proposes an Education Trust Fund that would guarantee funding to meet the requirements.

Kerry opposes vouchers for private schools.

Dennis Kucinich

Kucinich would provide a tuition-free college education for 12 million public students who currently pay $4,000 a year.

Kucinich would reform the No Child Left Behind program, which requires standards of academic achievement. Schools that do not perform are placed on a "schools in need of improvement" list and students are entitled to transfer to a better school. If a school appears on the list for two years, low-income students are entitled to free tutoring services. He would provide more money to meet the requirements. Kucinich would expand pre-kindergarten to include 3-year-olds. He calls for smaller classes, higher teacher salaries, and better, more practical job training for those not going to college.

Kucinich opposes vouchers for private schools.

Al Sharpton

Sharpton advocates for equality in public education for all students. He supports amending the U.S. Constitution to make equal education a right.

Sharpton opposes the No Child Left Behind program, which requires standards of academic achievement. He says it does not adequately address the individual needs of children.

Sharpton opposes vouchers for private school students.

George W. Bush

Since taking office, President Bush approved tax exemptions for parents with children in college. He promises to continue to support these in the future.

In 2001, Bush signed the No Child Left Behind Act into law, which requires standards of academic achievement. Schools that do not perform are placed on a "schools in need of improvement" list and students are entitled to transfer to a better school. If a school appears on the list for two years, low-income students are entitled to free tutoring services. Critics say that the federal government has not provided enough funding to implement the program. Mayor Bloomberg estimated that New York City would need $400 million a year.

Bush supports taxpayer financed vouchers for private schools.

• • • • • • •
Back to Urban Issues Main Page
• • • • • • •

GOTHAM GAZETTE’S RELATED ARTICLES


• Higher Education, Lower Budget
• No Child Left Behind
• No Child Left Behind and New York City
• School Vouchers

 



Print Friendly and PDF

Editor's Choice


Gotham Gazette: New York Voters Approve $4.2 Billion Environmental Bond Act
New York Voters Approve $4.2 Billion Environmental Bond Act
Gotham Gazette: 
New York City Voters Approve Racial Justice Ballot Measures
New York City Voters Approve Racial Justice Ballot Measures
Gotham Gazette: 
Housing Development in New York City Slows to a Crawl as Officials Debate Tax Incentives
Housing Development in New York City Slows to a Crawl as Officials Debate Tax Incentives
Gotham Gazette: 
City Council Examines Low Voter Turnout, Moving Local Elections to Even Years City Council Examines Low Voter Turnout, Moving Local Elections to Even Years