Sheirl Fletcher is committed to... Education
PROBLEMS:
Our children are America's economic future. Every child must be given a quality education. They must be taught the fundamental skills needed to compete in a global economy. The intent of No Child Left Behind (NCLB) was a good one, but shortcomings in the law (NCLB) and misdirected funding limited its effectiveness.
Students Left Behind: Thousands of middle and high school students across our country still read significantly below their grade level. One-third (1/3) of high school graduates do not go onto college. American high school students rank 28th out of 40 countries in mathematics and 19th out of 40 countries in science. Almost 30 percent of freshmen college students must take remedial science and math classes because they are not proficient in the subjects.
High School Dropout Rate: The United States has one of the highest dropout rates in the industrialized world. Only 70% of U.S. high school students graduate with a diploma.
Teacher Retention Crisis: Thirty percent of teachers leave their profession within the first five years of employment.
College Tuition Costs: In the U.S, college tuition costs have increased 40% in the past five years. The average college graduate will leave college with a debt load of more than $19,000. Many qualified students will choose not go to college simply because they cannot afford it, or they are not aware of the financial aid that is available to them.
Veterans Education: Many veterans find it difficult to begin college and obtain a degree within the required ten-year period following their service to our country. Often medical circumstances or family responsibilities cause them to delay admission to college. This often results in loss of the dream of a college degree and future earning power.SOLUTIONS:
- As your senator I will put our children's education first.
- Expand early childhood and Head Start programs to insure that children receive "total-child" care and the best preparation for kindergarten.
- Require students in first through third grades to reach competency levels in reading and math before passing them onto the next grade level.
- Address the Dropout Crisis by finding ways to make education engaging and relevant to the child. Fund intervention strategies in middle school -- strategies such as student academic plans, "adopt-a-parent" mentoring programs, and intensive reading and math instruction.
- Reward Teachers: Teachers should be rewarded with higher salaries based on merit and results obtained in the classroom, not on the length of time they teach. We should provide bonuses and forgive student loans for high-performing teachers who work in low-performing schools.
- Make Math and Science Education a National Priority: Priority must be placed on the student's math and science competency and the recruitment of math and science teachers by offering tuition-free incentives or student loan forgiveness.
- Make tuition affordable for any student who desires to go to college by supporting tax credits for college tuition costs and increasing the Pell Grant.
- Remove the ten-year requirement from the GI Bill. Veterans have sacrificed much in service to our country. Let them decide the timing for their college education.
- Provide funding to research universities such as WVU and Marshall University to develop the technologies needed to meet our nation's goal of becoming energy independent; and for bioresearch to find cures for cancer, HIV-AIDS and other diseases.
On May 13th, please vote for Sheirl Fletcher -- for United States Senate.
She's Committed to West Virginia!
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