MARK BEGICH: RESPECTING LOCAL EDUCATION VALUES, PREPARING ALASKA’S CHILDREN TO COMPETE GLOBALLY

As the son of educators and the father of a 6-year-old son, education is a top priority for Mark Begich. He’ll work to give all Alaskans the best schools possible so they have the skills to compete in the global market. That starts with getting rid of No Child Left Behind, which doesn’t work for Alaska, and improving accountability by restoring local control of our schools to parents and community. By getting rid of federal mandates that don’t work, money will become available for more locally-controlled programs. Mark Begich will invest in education so communities can offer better pay for teachers, better schools, and a better future for our children He will fight for better educational opportunities at every level, from universal pre-K education to affordable college and vocational education.

RESTORING LOCAL CONTROL

Mark Begich believes No Child Left Behind is a disaster, especially for Alaska. Rather than supporting schools, NCLB has punished too many Alaska students and schools for not improving quickly enough. Rather than providing extra support for struggling schools, NCLB imposed inflexible regulations and requirements that are impossible to meet in many Alaska schools. Alaska schools won’t ever fit the cookie-cutter vision of Washington bureaucrats. One of Begich’s top priorities in the Senate will a new education policy that allows Alaskans, not Washington, D.C., to decide what is best for educating Alaska’s children. Begich will fight for local control and accountability that respects community values and to secure the more than $70 billion of federal funding promised with NCLB but not delivered. This will also help federal money stretch farther, since local school boards know best how to spend their money. Mark Begich’s policy is simple: the federal government should support schools, but let local communities run them.

HELPING ALASKA CHILDREN REACH THEIR HIGHEST POTENTIAL

Mark Begich believes the nation must invest in schools for the good of children and society. Additional support could be used by school districts to obtain high-quality curriculum materials reflecting 21st century literacy skills; information technology for all students; professional development for teachers to obtain high tech expertise; and improved salaries and focused recruitment to bring Alaska graduates back to our towns and villages as teachers. Assessment and high standards are important, but Begich would give flexibility to school districts to develop their own programs. In areas where federal mandates are necessary, such as special education, Begich would fight for full funding to meet those requirements, so that student needs are met without taking funds from other critical areas.

STARTING OUT RIGHT – INVESTING IN UNIVERSAL, VOLUNTARY PRE-K

Study after study—and common sense—tell us that a key predictor of success in school is a child’s readiness when he or she arrives at kindergarten. Alaska is one of only a handful of states with no statewide preschool programs. Mark Begich supports federal support for early learning programs for every Alaska child. He would add to the successful Head Start program and protect the local control Alaskans have over the program. Alaska is one of only a handful of states with no statewide preschool programs. It’s time for the federal government to step up and help states offer voluntary, universal pre-K. Begich will push for a major new investment in early childhood education to help states establish quality pre-K programs. For every dollar invested in early programs, more than $8 in benefits is returned. Begich’s plan would fund these programs to offer comprehensive services, including health screening and referral services that recognize all aspects of a young child’s development are important to ensuring they are ready to succeed in school.

EXPANDING ALASKA NATIVE EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES

America has an obligation to its first people to provide excellent educational opportunities in villages, regional centers, and at universities. Mark Begich’s support for educational excellence at all levels means providing federal funding and empowering Alaska Natives to make their own decisions about schools. He supports parent and community involvement in the development of culturally relevant curriculum that meets state standards and utilizes traditional ways of knowing to teach math, science, history, analytical skills, and further development of Alaska Native language immersion programs. It also means ensuring that innovative work in areas of Alaska Native student support and education supported by the Alaska Native Education Program is funded and expanded as a model nationwide. The federal government also must support incentives and mentoring programs to retain quality teachers in rural communities and keep Alaska Native students in school at the university level.

MAKING COLLEGE AFFORDABLE FOR ALL ALASKA FAMILIES

College is a necessity that’s priced like a luxury. In addition to the Hope Scholarship and Lifetime Learning Credit, Mark Begich wants to bring a broad-based college and vocational education tuition tax credits to all middle class Americans. Begich also supports increased funding for Pell Grants and expanded eligibility to include more working families and part time students. Begich also supports Senator Jim Webb’s new G.I. Bill that increases educational funding for veterans.

EXPANDING CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION

Alaska faces severe shortages of trained workers for resource development, construction, health care, aviation and other jobs that require some post-secondary education but not a four-year degree. The number of high-school teachers in this area is declining in Alaska and federally mandated standards are making the problem worse. Without a major investment in career and technical education, good-paying jobs, such as construction of the gas pipeline, will not go to Alaskans. Mark Begich supports funding for high school career and technical programs and teacher recruitment, which he would expand to middle school programs as well. Job training should also be expanded, especially at community campuses.

KEEPING THE UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA STRONG

Strong universities build strong, economically-diverse communities. More and more Alaskan high school students are staying in Alaska for college. These students are more likely to stay here and start businesses, enter professions, contribute to the economy, and enhance the quality of life in Alaska. Alaskans deserve continued support for a university strong in academics, research and teaching, career and technical education, and support for students. Mark Begich supports the recent changes made in the Higher Education Opportunity Act to support the Alaska Native Science and Engineering Program, but thinks more can be done to support universities that serve minorities. He will push for additional funding for scientific and technical research, which have stagnated under the current administration. He will push for new energy research block grants that focus on renewable energy and energy efficiency innovation.

CUTTING ENERGY COSTS, BUILDING SUSTAINABLE SCHOOLS

Like all Alaskans, Alaska school administrators are facing record energy prices at every school. The numbers are alarming: for the village of Ambler, more than $29,000 in the month of March alone. With help, communities can start to tackle this problem. School districts are designing new high performance schools that are energy and resource efficient, and well equipped to provide quality education. Sustainable schools use an average of 30 percent to 50 percent less energy compared to conventional schools. Mark Begich will support new federal funding that rewards schools that adopt sustainable, high-performance building and reconstruction standards. The grants could be used for new construction and reconstruction. The program will reduce long term school energy costs and help communities reduce property taxes by offsetting school construction costs.