Education

Closeup shot of a young man writing on a note pad

Today our country spends approximately $900 billion each year educating students in public elementary and secondary schools. That equates to over $18,000 for each student. With such a huge educational investment, governments at the federal, state and local levels have a duty to ensure our children are receiving an excellent education that meets their needs and prepares them for success in either the workforce or higher education.

As Chairman of the House Committee on Education and Workforce, I understand the quality of our children’s education directly effects how we as a state and country will prosper at home and compete globally. Michigan cannot create a smart and successful workforce without a well-educated youth, and it is important to our economic growth and ability to create jobs. Successfully educating Michigan’s future workforce depends on how much control we have in our state and community. While they may think so, bureaucrats in Washington do not know more than Michigan’s parents about the needs of our children.

RETURN CONTROL TO PARENTS

As a member of Congress I have consistently supported legislative initiatives that would give the states, parents and teachers the ability to determine the educational needs of our children. I voted in support of the Every Student Succeeds Act, to reform the nation’s K-12 education system by putting control back in the hands of parents, school leaders and local communities.

In recent years, we have heard far too many reports of schools withholding personal information from parents about their children. Parents have the fundamental right to raise and educate their children in the way that they choose. I am proud to champion legislation that would safeguard parental rights. The PROTECT Kids Act will require any federally funded elementary or middle school to seek and acquire parental consent before changing their child’s pronouns, gender markers, or preferred name on any school form. This includes allowing a child to change their sex-based accommodations, such as locker rooms or bathrooms. This legislation was included in the Parents Bill of Rights, which passed the House in March 2023.

SCHOOL CHOICE

Michigan parents should have the opportunity to choose the type of education their children receive. If federal scholarships are made available to some students in failing schools, they should be allowed to attend the educational institution of their choice, free from government interference.

COLLEGE AFFORDABILITY

The cost of college has increased steadily over the past decade. On average, students in Michigan are graduating with about $30,000 in debt. We must do more to incentivize and support those who plan ahead and save for education. Additionally, we must look for ways to streamline and simplify our federal student aid system, so students and families can effectively navigate their options and find what works best for them. If you are interested in learning more about what college financing options may be available to you, please visit here.

HIGHER EDUCATION ACT

The current higher education system is too expensive and bureaucratic and is in need of reform so that more students can pursue the dream of a college degree. Any reforms to our higher education policies and programs must prioritize reducing costs and emphasize the importance of completion, while simplifying and improving student aid programs, and increasing transparency in prices and program outcomes. To learn more about the House Committee on Education and the Workforce's efforts in this area, please click here.

CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION

When I meet with educators, manufacturers, and career centers in Michigan, I hear about the struggle to find well-trained workers to meet the ever-growing demand in the skilled trades or technical fields. That is why I am a proud cosponsor of the Bipartisan Workforce Pell Act, which would expand the use of the Pell Grant to skills-based programs that offer high-quality credentials and certifications that our economy demands. Taxpayer dollars must be more effective in aligning America’s education opportunities with our workforce needs. The PELL Act would address these needs by enabling education and career training opportunities for a new segment of the American population.

In 2018, President Trump signed into law, H.R.2353, a bill to reauthorize and improve the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act – legislation that has provided federal support to state and local career and technical education programs for over 30 years. Additionally, H.R.2353 contained language from my bill, H.R.2155, the New Hope Act, which gives states additional flexibility to identify, consolidate, or eliminate licensing requirements that pose an unnecessary barrier to entry for aspiring workers and provide limited consumer protection. Additionally, I was proud to sponsor H.R.1032, Telecommunication Skilled Workforce Act, to help close the workforce shortage in the telecommunications industry so the United States is equipped to deploy 5G technology and broadband infrastructure to underserved communities. H.R.1032 was signed into law in November 2021.