From many of the polls and pundits, it looks like Senator John McCain has the fast track to becoming the Republican nominee for President of the United States. Here is where the Senator from Arizona stands on educational issues, according to On the Issues:
Teaching creationism should be decided by school districts
Q: Do you believe creationism should be taught alongside evolution in the nation's schools?
No, I believe that's up to the school districts. But I think that every American should be exposed to all theories. There's no doubt in my mind that the hand of God was in what we are today. And I do believe that we are unique, and I believe that God loves us. But I also believe that all of our children in school can be taught different views on different issues. I leave the curricula up to the school boards.
Source: 2007 GOP debate at Saint Anselm College Jun 3, 2007
Believes in evolution, but sees the hand of God in nature
Q: Do you believe in evolution?
McCAIN: Yes.
Q: I'm curious, is there anybody on the stage that does not agree, believe in evolution?
[TANCREDO, HUCKABEE, and BROWNBACK raise their hands, indicating that they do not believe in evolution].
McCAIN: I believe in evolution. But I also believe, when I hike the Grand Canyon and see it at sunset, that the hand of God is there also.
Source: 2007 GOP primary debate, at Reagan library, hosted by MSNBC May 3, 2007
Against nationally imposed standards & funding strings
Q: Should federal money be linked to how well students perform on national or statewide tests? A: I do not favor nationally imposed standards or federal funding strings. State and local education agencies should be responsible for developing & enforcing high academic standards. I don�t believe we should penalize students by taking away limited education dollars according to federal dictates. Such strings would invariably require states to spend even more money on federally imposed bureaucratic requirements-money that would be better spent in the classroom. I propose sending education funding directly to classrooms rather than having it siphoned off by federal and state bureaucracies. If this funding flows to classrooms that continue to fail, the state should have the authority to allow students to use that funding directly for programs that best meet their academic needs. Empowering parents and students through educational choice and competition is the surest path to academic excellence.
Source: Associated Press Feb 23, 2000
Teach virtues in all schools
I walked into a charter school classroom in Phoenix. On the desk was a children's book of virtues. The teacher was teaching the virtue of the month, which happened to be the importance of telling the truth. We need to inject that in all of our charter schools and in schools all over America. I would provide the much needed tax breaks that are necessary to encourage them. I would certainly make them part of any voucher program, a test voucher program which I would not take out of education funds.
Source: Phoenix Arizona GOP Debate Dec 7, 1999
Enlist retirees for tutoring
McCain wants to create a pool of military veterans, retirees and others who would tutor students in math, science and English. "You really need to have a lot more people helping kids get their education, McCain said. Tutors can help reinforce the message that education is important and give students the support they need to succeed, McCain said. If tutors aren't available in some neighborhoods, the Internet may be able to link them with students, he said.
Source: Associated Press Nov 22, 1999
Good teachers should earn more than bad lawyers
Q: How can we attract the best and the brightest teachers, given the current salaries? A: I don't see why a good teacher should be paid less money than a bad senator. It's important that we have merit pay for teachers, that we have teacher testing, that we do everything we can to motivate young men and women to enter this profession. There's a whole generation that's retiring. It is unconscionable that the average salary of a lawyer is $79,000 a year and the average salary of a teacher is $39,000 a year
Source: Republican Debate at Dartmouth College Oct 29, 1999
Decisions on teaching evolution should be made locally
On teaching evolution in schools, McCain says the decision should be made at the local level.
Source: Bruce Morton, CNN Aug 27, 1999
Help unqualified teachers find other lines of work
McCain feels that each and every child in every classroom deserves a teacher who is qualified and enthusiastic about teaching. "Some people just aren't meant to be teachers, and we should help them find another line of work. Because if teachers can't teach, our kids can't learn."
Source: McCain for President web Site Jul 2, 1999
Supports tax-free savings accounts for education expenses
McCain co-sponsored the Education A-Plus bill in 1997 (which Clinton vetoed) and again in 1999, to allow parents to open tax-free savings accounts for their children's educational expenses - including tutoring, computers, and tuition.
Source: McCain for President web Site Jul 2, 1999
Supports "Reading Excellence"; and rewarding good schools
McCain's voting record on education:
1998: Supported the Reading Excellence Act, to combat illiteracy, promote adult education, and strengthen teacher preparation.
1989: Co-sponsored the Educational Excellence Act , to recognize and reward schools, teachers, and students for their outstanding achievements; enhance parental choice; and encourage the study of science, mathematics, and engineering.
Source: McCain for President web Site Jul 2, 1999
Supports at-risk programs; homeless ed.; anti-drop-out ed.
McCain's voting record on at-risk education:
1998: Co-sponsored the Child Nutrition Act, to create enrichment programs for low-income and at-risk children.
1991: Funded educating homeless adults and family literacy programs.
1990: Supported Dropout Prevention Programs legislation, and secured funding for Project Prime to help reduce the dropout rate for minority students.
1998: Supported amendment focusing on the unique dropout problems facing Hispanic students.
Source: McCain for President web Site Jul 2, 1999
Internet access, with filters, at every school & library
McCain seeks high-speed Internet access for every school, but suggested requiring filtering software for all public school and library computers as a way to keep children from potentially harmful Internet sites.
Source: Associated Press Jun 14, 1999
Merit pay & competency testing for teachers
Also promoted merit-based pay for teachers, calling higher teacher salaries an "urgent necessity." But he added that teachers should be tested for competence periodically and fired if they don't meet certain standards.
Source: Associated Press Jun 14, 1999
Ed-ACT Bill: college plans; language proficiency
[McCain's proposed Senate bill], Educating America's Children for Tomorrow (Ed-ACT), would:
Return control of our children's education to parents, teachers, and local communities
Help schools hire and retain quality teachers
Provide more opportunities for disadvantaged children
Increase parents' options to save for their children's higher education
Encourage proficiency in English plus other languages in order to increase our competitiveness in the global marketplace.
Source: www.mccain2000.com/ "Position Papers" 5/24/99 May 24, 1999
John McCain on School Choice
We need more choice and competition in education
schools, some have failed, but they're competing with the public schools, and the level of education is increasing. In New York City today, there are some remarkable things happening under Mayor Bloomberg, who has done marvelous work with an educational system that was clearly broken. Those can be examples of a way to improve education, provide choice and competition, and give every family the same choice I and my family had, and that is to send our child to the school of our choice.
Source: 2007 Des Moines Register Republican Debate Dec 12, 2007
Charters, homeschooling, & vouchers are key to success
Q: How can we improve the quality of public schools in this country?
A: Choice and competition is the key to success in education in America. That means charter schools, that means home schooling, it means vouchers, it means rewarding good teachers and finding bad teachers another line of work. It means rewarding good performing schools, and it really means in some cases putting bad performing schools out of business. I want every American parent to have a choice, a choice as to how they want their child educated, and I guarantee you the competition will dramatically increase the level of education in America. And I applaud our former Governor [Jeb] Bush for the great job he's done on education in Florida and America.
Source: 2007 Republican primary debate on Univision Dec 9, 2007
Local charters are the best Arizona schools
Q: To combat the teachers unions you deplore, should we have federal standardized tests?
A: You would agree with that if you believed that the power of the teachers unions cannot be broken. The teachers unions in my state fought tooth & nail against charter schools. Yet we prevailed and the best schools in my state happen to be charter schools. I believe that it's a serious mistake to allow some bureaucrat in Washington to decide about the standards to be set by the people of the state of Arizona.
Source: GOP debate in Los Angeles Mar 2, 2000
Let states decide if they link vouchers to student testing
McCain supports a program of federally financed vouchers, but states would decide individually whether to use standardized tests to make high-stakes decisions about who could get the vouchers.
McCain's proposal would create the most ambitious voucher experiment yet, spending $5.5 billion over three years to present one million students with vouchers of up to $2,000 annually.
To counter the argument that vouchers siphon money from public schools when students leave, McCain would create a new source of financing: the tax money now spent as corporate subsidies.
The senator has yet to define how the vouchers would be awarded, but he has said the poorest children in the worst schools would be immediately eligible.
McCain's voucher proposals would probably face stiff opposition in Congress. Not only would the industries targeted by McCain fight to retain their share of subsidies, but the House, as recently as last fall, declined to consider a voucher proposal.
Source: New York Times Feb 29, 2000
Use sugar, oil, and ethanol subsidies to finance vouchers
Q: How much power should the federal government have over state education? A: Choice & competition are the key to the future of education in America. Students in America rank at the bottom in the most disciplines such as physics & chemistry. We should try charter schools all over America. I would take the gas and oil, ethanol and sugar subsidies and take that money and put it into a test voucher program over three years to be used in every poor school district in every state in America.
Source: GOP Debate in Johnston, Iowa Jan 16, 2000
Tax breaks for charters - not from public school funds
I walked into a charter school classroom in Phoenix. On the desk was a children's book of virtues. The teacher was teaching the virtue of the month, which happened to be the importance of telling the truth. We need to inject that in all of our charter schools and in schools all over America. I would provide the much needed tax breaks that are necessary to encourage them. I would certainly make them part of any voucher program, a test voucher program which I would not take out of education funds.
Source: (Cross-ref from Education) Phoenix Arizona GOP Debate Dec 7, 1999
Vouchers & charters will improve our school system
We have to have choice and competition in our schools in order to improve our school system, including charter schools, including a test voucher program that would be paid for with ethanol subsidies and with sugar subsidies. And in order to make that system work, the test voucher program throughout America, we have to have good teachers, and I would argue that merit pay, rewards for good teachers and helping bad teachers find another line of work is the way we must go about it.
Source: Republican Debate at Dartmouth College Oct 29, 1999
Nationwide test of school vouchers
Our children deserve the best education we can provide to them, whether that learning takes place in a public, private or parochial school. It's time to give middle and lower income parents the same right wealthier families have -- to send their child to the school that best meets their needs. It's time to conduct a nationwide test of school vouchers. It's time to democratize education.
Source: Candidacy Declaration Speech, Nashua NH Sep 27, 1999
$5B program for 3-year test of school vouchers
McCain proposed a school voucher program to offer education opportunities for disadvantaged children, paid for by eliminating $5.4 billion worth of subsidies for ethanol, sugar, gas and oil. Under McCain's three-year test program, disadvantaged children would receive vouchers worth $2,000 a year. The money would be used to offset the costs of attending any school chosen by the student or parents. "We shouldn't have special interest giveaways at the expense of our neediest children," McCain said.
Source: Mike Glover, Associated Press Jul 29, 1999
Tax-funded vouchers for private schools or charter schools
McCain's platform calls for a school voucher program that would give tax money to middle- and lower-income families to send their children to private schools. And he praised charter schools - publicly funded schools that often serve a specialized curriculum and operate free from many government mandates.
Source: Associated Press Jun 14, 1999
Shift policy-making from bureaucrats to parents
McCain knows we can save public education if we "have the courage to do more than placate the defenders of the status quo." McCain [supports] more money reaching our classrooms, increased financial flexibility for parents, greater choices for families, and well-trained teachers. He [opposes] Washington bureaucrats and public education unions dictating education policies. He believes in letting parents, educators, and local communities make the important decisions about our children's education.
Source: www.mccain2000.com/ "Position Papers" 5/24/99 May 24, 1999
Vouchers needed where teachers fail
McCain believes school vouchers should be available to parents in order that they may place their children in the best learning environment for their particular needs. He feels that each and every child in every classroom deserves a teacher who is qualified and enthusiastic about teaching. "Some people just aren't meant to be teachers, and we should help them find another line of work. Because if teachers can't teach, our kids can't learn."
Source: www.mccain2000.com/ "Position Papers" 5/24/99 May 24, 1999
Vouchers for any schools; more charter schools
McCain supports the following principles concerning school choice:
Allow parents to use vouchers to send their children to any participating school: public, private or religious
Allow parents to use tax-free savings accounts to send their children to any participating school: public, private or religious
Support creation of more charter schools where teachers and professionals receive authorization and funding to establish new schools
Source: Project Vote Smart, 1998, www.vote-smart.org Jul 2, 1998
John McCain on Voting Record
Unrestricted block grants--let states decide spending
McCain would be reluctant to tie federal dollars to a school's academic standing. But he seems intent on pleasing conservatives by extracting the federal government from most school-level spending decisions. McCain has said he would present most federal education money to states in unrestricted block grants -- he would include an additional $500 million earmarked broadly for teachers' merit pay -- and leave it to the states and districts to spend as they see fit.
Source: New York Times Feb 29, 2000
Voted NO on $52M for "21st century community learning centers".
To increase appropriations for after-school programs through 21st century community learning centers. Voting YES would increase funding by $51.9 million for after school programs run by the 21st century community learning centers and would decrease funding by $51.9 million for salaries and expenses in the Department of Labor.
Reference: Amendment to Agencies Appropriations Act; Bill S Amdt 2287 to HR 3010 ; vote number 2005-279 on Oct 27, 2005
Voted NO on $5B for grants to local educational agencies.
To provide an additional $5 billion for title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965. Voting YES would provide:
$2.5 billion for targeting grants to local educational agencies
$2.5 billion for education finance incentive grants
Reference: Elementary and Secondary Education Amendment; Bill S Amdt 2275 to HR 3010 ; vote number 2005-269 on Oct 26, 2005
Voted NO on shifting $11B from corporate tax loopholes to education.
Vote to adopt an amendment to the Senate's 2006 Fiscal Year Budget Resolution that would adjust education funding while still reducing the deficit by $5.4 billion. A YES vote would:
Restore education program cuts slated for vocational education, adult education, GEAR UP, and TRIO.
Increase the maximum Pell Grant scholarship to $4,500 immediately.
Increases future math and science teacher student loan forgiveness to $23,000.
Pay for the education funding by closing $10.8 billion in corporate tax loopholes.
Reference: Kennedy amendment relative to education funding; Bill S AMDT 177 to S Con Res 18 ; vote number 2005-68 on Mar 17, 2005
Voted NO on funding smaller classes instead of private tutors.
Vote to authorize a federal program aimed at reducing class size. The plan would assist states and local education agencies in recruiting, hiring and training 100,000 new teachers, with $2.4 billion in fiscal 2002. This amendment would replace an amendment allowing parents with children at under-performing schools to use public funding for private tutors.
Reference: Bill S1 ; vote number 2001-103 on May 15, 2001
Voted NO on funding student testing instead of private tutors.
Vote to pass an amendment that would authorize $200 million to provide grants to help states develop assessment systems that describe student achievement. This amendment would replace an amendment by Jeffords, R-VT, which would allow parents with children at under-performing schools to use public funding for private tutors.
Reference: Bill S1 ; vote number 2001-99 on May 10, 2001
Voted NO on spending $448B of tax cut on education & debt reduction.
Vote to reduce the size of the $1.6 trillion tax cut by $448 billion while increasing education spending by $250 billion and providing an increase of approximately $224 billion for debt reduction over 10 years.
Reference: Bill H Con Res 83 ; vote number 2001-69 on Apr 4, 2001
Voted YES on declaring memorial prayers and religious symbols OK at schools.
Vote to declare that erecting religious symbols and praying on public school campuses as part of a memorial service does not violate the First Amendment to the Constitution, and to provide legal assistance to any government entity defending such a case.
Reference: Bill S.254 ; vote number 1999-121 on May 18, 1999
Voted YES on allowing more flexibility in federal school rules.
This vote was a motion to invoke cloture on a bill aimed at allowing states to waive certain federal rules normally required in order to use federal school aid. [A YES vote implies support of charter schools and vouchers].
Status: Cloture Motion Rejected Y)55; N)39; NV)6
Reference: Motion to Invoke cloture on Jeffords Amdt #31; Bill S. 280 ; vote number 1999-35 on Mar 9, 1999
Voted YES on education savings accounts.
This Conference Report approved tax-sheltered education savings accounts.
Status: Conf Rpt Agreed to Y)59; N)36; NV)5
Reference: H.R. 2646 Conference Report; Bill H.R. 2646 ; vote number 1998-169 on Jun 24, 1998
Voted YES on school vouchers in DC.
This legislation would have amended the DC spending measure, imposing an unconstitutional school voucher program on the District.
Status: Cloture Motion Rejected Y)58; N)41; NV)1
Reference: DC Appropriations Act; Bill S. 1156 ; vote number 1997-260 on Sep 30, 1997
Voted YES on $75M for abstinence education.
Vote to retain a provision of the Budget Act that funds abstinence education to help reduce teenage pregnancy, using $75 million of the Maternal and Child Health Block Grant Program.
Reference: Bill S 1956 ; vote number 1996-231 on Jul 23, 1996
Voted YES on requiring schools to allow voluntary prayer.
Cut off federal funds to school districts that deny students their right to constitutionally protected voluntary prayer.
Reference: Bill S.1513 ; vote number 1994-236 on Jul 27, 1994
Voted NO on national education standards.
Approval of national education standards.
Status: Bill Passed Y)71; N)25; NV)4
Reference: Goals 2000: Educate America Act; Bill H.R. 1804 ; vote number 1994-34 on Feb 8, 1994
Focus educational resources to help those with greatest need.
McCain adopted the Republican Main Street Partnership agenda item:
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) helps to fulfill the most basic mission of federal education programs' equal opportunity for all children. To help improve the federal role in education, the Republican Main Street Partnership has identified the following areas that should receive priority during the reauthorization of IDEA:
Focus resources to help those with the greatest need, particularly the disadvantaged and disabled
Target Title I funds, those specifically designed to aid disadvantaged students, to students with the greatest need
Although Title I funds are already allocated according to population and poverty, more funds must be targeted to our neediest schools. We propose funding, for the first time, grants that send at least a portion of Title I funds solely on the basis of need.
Increase the maximum award under Pell Grants to help first-generation & low-income students continue their education
Increase the maximum award for students from low-income families to restore the balance between grants and loans, particularly among those with the greatest need.
Continue efforts to increase federal funding for IDEA to help states and locals offset the cost of providing a "free appropriate public education" for students with special needs
Move federal funding toward its goal of providing up to 40 percent of the average cost of educating a disabled child.
In addition, we need to better evaluate the effectiveness of this program and ensure that federal funds for IDEA "particularly in light of recent funding increases" are being targeted to our students with real learning disabilities.
Finally and most important, any fiscal incentives must be examined to ensure that the overidentification of learning disabled students is prevented, and our efforts must focus on the regular evaluation of the program to ensure that our special needs children are truly being provided a "free appropriate public education."
Source: 2001 GOP Main Street Partnership Action Agenda for Education 01-RMSP2 on Jul 2, 2001
Require state standards, regular assessments, and sanctions.
McCain adopted the Republican Main Street Partnership agenda item:
To help improve the federal role in education, the Republican Main Street Partnership has identified the following areas that should receive priority:
Require states to implement high standards of achievement in core subject areas, such as reading, math, writing, and science, for all students.
Nearly all states have established high standards for education content in reading, writing and math. To continue to be eligible for Title I funds, we must ensure that states meet these standards.
Require states to demonstrate success in raising the performance of all students -- from those who score below basic to those who are already proficient -- and narrowing the gap between disadvantaged students and their more advantaged peers.
Without regular assessments, we cannot determine how well students are achieving with respect to each state's performance goals. Although states are required to have assessments aligned with their content and performance standards by the 2000-2001 school year, it now seems that no state will be approved in time. To continue to be eligible for Title I funds, states must continue to work toward this goal and waivers must be provided only for those who are making substantial progress toward the implementation of their aligned assessments.
Establish a meaningful system of rewards for schools that significantly increase student achievement and sanctions for those that fail.
Schools that consistently fail to make progress toward their state's own performance goals, after assistance and opportunity to improve, must be sanctioned with corrective actions ranging from the reconstitution of the school staff to the authorization of students to transfer to another public school. Schools that meet or exceed their performance goals should receive monetary awards through a new grant program designed to reward achievement.
Source: 2001 GOP Main Street Partnership Action Agenda for Education 01-RMSP3 on Jul 2, 2001
Support Ed-Flex: more flexibility if more accountable.
McCain adopted the Republican Main Street Partnership agenda item:
To help improve the federal role in education, the Republican Main Street Partnership has identified the following areas that should receive priority:
Provide flexibility in exchange for increased accountability.
Encourage more states to take advantaged of the Education-Flexibility waiver to better align federal programs with state and local priorities.
Currently, 15 states have Ed-Flex authority and, according to GAO reports, the waiver authority promotes a climate that encourages state and local educators to explore new approaches to education. Ultimately, the states must make the decision to apply for the waiver, but education leaders must encourage states and schools to be innovative in their approach to education improvement.
Enact new legislation to give states the option to combine education programs and funding in exchange for demonstrated improvements in student achievement at all levels
In exchange for new flexibility, a participating state would have to show how it would combine and use funds to advance education priorities, improve student achievement and narrow the learning gap. If, after three years, the state has failed to meet its own requirements, the flexibility authority would be terminated and administrative funds would be withheld.
Source: 2001 GOP Main Street Partnership Action Agenda for Education 01-RMSP4 on Jul 2, 2001
Rated 45% by the NEA, indicating a mixed record on public education.
McCain scores 45% by the NEA on public education issues
The National Education Association has a long, proud history as the nation's leading organization committed to advancing the cause of public education. Founded in 1857 "to elevate the character and advance the interests of the profession of teaching and to promote the cause of popular education in the United States," the NEA has remained constant in its commitment to its original mission as evidenced by the current mission statement:
To fulfill the promise of a democratic society, the National Education Association shall promote the cause of quality public education and advance the profession of education; expand the rights and further the interest of educational employees; and advocate human, civil, and economic rights for all.
In pursuing its mission, the NEA has determined that it will focus the energy and resources of its 2.7 million members toward the "promotion of public confidence in public education." The ratings are based on the votes the organization considered most important; the numbers reflect the percentage of time the representative voted the organization's preferred position.
Source: NEA website 03n-NEA on Dec 31, 2003
