George W. Bush

Bush’s proposed 2005 budget includes increased funding for the Pell Grant program, which supplies grants to needy undergraduate students. Bush also proposes a public/private partnership that will provide $100 million in grants to a total of 20,000 low-income students who study math or science. Also supports new funding for education and job training programs. (Learn more)

Bush supports taxpayer-financed vouchers for private schools.

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. (Learn more) Mayor Michael Bloomberg estimated that New York City would need $400 million a year in order to meet the requirements of the program, but the city has received far less.

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. (Learn more)

Kerry would reform the No Child Left Behind program by revising the standards by which the program is administered. For example, measures like graduation rates, teacher attendance, and student attendance would be more important than test scores in assessing how a school is doing. Kerry would also form a National Education Trust Fund that would help guarantee funding to meet educational obligations, including No Child Left Behind. (Learn more)

Kerry opposes vouchers for private schools. (Learn more)

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GOTHAM GAZETTE’S RELATED ARTICLES

• Higher Education, Lower Budget
• No Child Left Behind
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