I believe the federal government has an obligation to provide our children with the best overall education system.  Investing in the future of our children allows them to become productive citizens and ensures the growth of our state and nation.

To achieve this goal, I believe that Congress should:

• Keep Class Sizes Low:  Our students deserve an environment that helps them reach their highest potential.  Smaller student to teacher ratios allow teachers to provide increased one-on-one instruction.   We must support our college education programs to increase the number of teachers being hired.
  
  
• Improve Rural Education:  School districts in rural areas need support to remain competitive.  Curricular programs such as Career Technical and Vocational Education are vitals to these communities.  Backing these programs provides students with tools to become viable members of our fast growing technical workforce.
  
  
• Help Working Families Through After-School Care:  When the final school bell sounds at a day's end, children are vulnerable to many dangerous situations.  They can become involved in unsafe activities when adult supervision is absent.  Each child deserves the right to participate in programs that are out of harm's way and foster academic growth.
  
  
• Fully Fund No Child Left Behind:  Since the enactment of NCLB in 2002, teachers, administrators and students have worked hard to meet the demands of this legislation.  I supported this bill because it overhauled the federal education system and demanded accountability from our schools.  It is important that schools have the resources they need by implementing localized testing services for special education and English as a Second Language students and flexibility for rural school teachers who teach several subjects.  A lack of adequate federal dollars means that our schools must reach standards that they do not have the resources to meet.  This year, Congress will likely reauthorize NCLB.  I will continue to listen to my educators and learn how we can improve on this legislation to make how education system better for both the teachers and the students.
  
  
• Support Teacher and Professional Development:  North Alabama is on the forefront of advances in technology.  Preparing our educators to help our students meet that demand is essential.  Programs like the Alabama Math, Science, and Technology Initiative works with federal and local government by giving teachers the materials, equipment and support to educate K-12 students in math, science and technology through summer institutes at our local colleges and universities.
  
  
• Make Higher Education More Affordable:  When parents and students have to pay for college, loan interest- rates should be low in addition to college and universities receiving adequate amounts of federal aid.