WCAT Radio The Open Door (July 21, 2017)

Education. A well-educated citizenry is integral to the flourishing of our Republic. We call for a system of public and private education for all students. We promote a culture of lifelong learning. Airing on Friday, July 21, 2017.​We, therefore, support:The right of families to choose the best methods for educating their children, be they public, charter, private, parochial or home-based education.Concrete steps to address educational inequalities in our current public education system, including the needs of economically disadvantaged students and students with disabilities.Increased funding for public education and measures to address the imbalance of finances and resources between districts.Tax credit programs that give families the practical means to choose the form of education they prefer.Tax credits for individual and corporate donations to fund scholarships for lower-income students at private primary and secondary educational institutions.Public funds for private education options, by means determined at the state or local level, provided equitable funding of public education is safeguarded.Measurable educational standards that preserve the freedom of teachers to design curricula appropriate to the needs of their students within general guidelines set by local authorities.Greater control of tuition rates at public institutions, and stricter regulation of for-profit educational enterprises.Expansion of student loan-forgiveness and loan-reduction programs.A public educational system that provides the rigorous formation of literate, well-rounded, virtuous citizens. As well as providing a foundation in core subjects, such as reading, writing, mathematics and science, we call for classes in civics, the arts, technical fields, vocational training, and financial literacy.