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John McCain on Education
"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."
Associated Press Feb 23, 2000
"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."
Phoenix Arizona GOP Debate Dec 7, 1999
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.
Bill H Con Res 83 ; vote number 2001-69 on Apr 4, 2001
McCain also addressed education, saying that holding teachers accountable for educating students improves schools, but No Child Left Behind needs to be reviewed to measure its full efficacy.
Senator McCain generally supports No Child Left Behind,” said Matt David, spokesman for the John McCain (R-Ariz.) campaign, “but he thinks there should be a stronger emphasis on science and math. His support for reauthorization will depend on what amendments are made to the bill,” David said, “not only what’s added to it but also what could be taken away.”
When asked what he would do about NCLB if elected President, the Senator responded that the law should be fixed -- especially in the areas of testing students with disabilities and non-English speaking students -- but that the law should not be repealed.
"I think we need to have this law we passed several years ago called No Child Left Behind updated so that we can have better performance criteria."
"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."
Republican Debate at Dartmouth College Oct 29, 1999
McCain 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.
Associated Press Jun 14, 1999
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.
New York Times Feb 29, 2000
"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."
Associated Press Feb 23, 2000
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.
New York Times Feb 29, 2000
McCain adopted the Republican Main Street Partnership agenda item: 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 goal.
2001 GOP Main Street Partnership Action Agenda for Education 01-RMSP3 on Jul 2, 2001
"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."
Associated Press Feb 23, 2000
McCain’s proposal [for vouchers in Arizona] 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.
New York Times Feb 29, 2000
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.
Associated Press July 29, 1999, by Mike Glover
"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."
Associated Press Feb 23, 2000
"The best schools in my state [Arizona] 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."
GOP debate in Los Angeles Mar 2, 2000
"Choice and 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 and chemistry. We should try charter schools all over America."
GOP Debate in Johnston, Iowa Jan 16, 2000
"I believe that choice and competition [are important parts] of education in America. I think that if your parents want to send you to a charter school you can go there or a public school or whichever one of their choice."
"Teaching creationism should be decided by school districts. 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."
2007 GOP debate at Saint Anselm College Jun 3, 2007
"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."
2007 GOP primary debate, at Reagan library, hosted by MSNBC May 3, 2007
On teaching evolution in schools, McCain says the decision should be made at the local level.
CNN, Aug 27, 1999, by Bruce Morton
McCain supports the following principles regarding affirmative action and discrimination: - The federal government should continue affirmative action programs only if such programs do not include quotas. - The Federal Government should consider affirmative action programs if ordered by a court to rectify specific programs.
Project Vote Smart, 1998, www.vote-smart.org Jul 2, 1998
Republican Sen. John McCain cautiously backed affirmative action as a means of leveling the playing field in the United States. "We do not have sufficient opportunities," said McCain, who took pains not to praise or condemn Initiative 200 [which bans preferences based on race, ethnicity and gender to make up for past discrimination.]
Voted NO on ending special funding for minority & women-owned business. Voted NO on legislation that would have abolished a program that helps businesses owned by women or minorities compete for federally funded transportation. Status: Cloture Motion Rejected Y)48; N)52
Motion to invoke cloture; Bill S.1173 ; vote number 1997-275 on Oct 23, 1997
"I'm in favor of affirmative action and I support it, but I also have to say that it is a phrase and two words that we have to define better."
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. [Supports incentive pay in the form of merit pay.]
"McCain for President", Web site, July 2, 1999
McCain would fully support a pay-for-performance incentive model, Graham Keegan said. Paying teachers extra according to data from test results, she said, would be the only reliable method to reward educators who stood out among their peers.
"Public education in the United States is much improved thanks to the competition provided by charter and private schools; the increase of quality teachers through incentives like merit pay and terrific programs that attract to the classroom enthusiastic and innovative teachers from many disciplines, like Teach for America and Troops to Teachers."
McCain 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.
Associated Press Jun 14, 1999
"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."
Republican Debate at Dartmouth College Oct 29, 1999
McCain backs expanded merit pay for teachers who improve students' performance and more money for tutoring poor students.
Voted YES 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.
Bill S.254 ; vote number 1999-121 on May 18, 1999
Voted YES to cut off federal funds to school districts that deny students their right to constitutionally protected voluntary prayer.
Bill S.1513 ; vote number 1994-236 on Jul 27, 1994
“School prayer or a moment of silence should be allowed but not mandated. Education is a civil rights issue. Education reform, including school choice is necessary so every student can be prepared for success in higher education, career and life."
Vote-Smart.org 2000 NPAT Jan 13, 2000
Supports incentives for national service but nothing mandatory. In late 2001 the Arizona Senator proposed an $18,000 bonus and shorter enlistment period to encourage young people to enter the military. The bill never passed Congress. [Supports incentive based encouragement for public service but bill does not make it mandatory.]
"National service is an issue that has been largely identified with the Democratic Party and the left of the political spectrum. That is unfortunate, because duty, honor and country are values that transcend ideology...National service is a crucial means of making our patriotism real, to the benefit of both ourselves and our country."
McCain introduced the Call to Service Act, which would create a truly national commitment to service by expanding AmeriCorps to 250,000 participants. [AmeriCorps is a voluntary program which promotes national public service.]