Claire is a lifelong product of public schools, having attended Hickman High School in Columbia and Mizzou for college and law school. She understands the crucial role of education to Missouri's workforce and economy. Our future depends on us not falling behind other countries, particularly in engineering and mathematics. Claire is passionate about ensuring our public school systems remain vibrant and higher education is affordable for all Missourians.
As state auditor, Claire issued numerous audits detailing wasted educated dollars not spent in classrooms and no-bid school contracts that drained taxpayer dollars. She also uncovered how Missouri's school funding formula still did not treat all schools equitably, with wealthy districts benefitting at the expense of poorer ones. In Washington, Claire has brought this same sense of accountability and responsibility as a U.S. Senator. She will not only champion investing in our children, but also ensure our taxpayer education dollars are effectively used.
Pre-School
Invest in Early Education. Investing in our children early on is critical. While our competitors invest many more resources into educating children ages 2-5, the U.S. lags in fully supporting our children during these early, crucial years. This lack of support causes U.S. students to fall behind in reading and math skills when they reach elementary schools. We are losing precious resources by failing to develop fully our children's minds.
Expanding access to early education will lead to a high-quality workforce and also can reduce long-term crime rates. Head Start has played an important role in helping low-income children access more educational opportunities. But Head Start now only serves three out of every five eligible children, leaving millions of children without the resources and hope to escape poverty. All Missouri's children, regardless of income, geography or skin color, deserve an equal start in life.
K-12 Education
Fully Fund No Child Left Behind and Special Education. Like many Missourians, Claire is disappointed and angry that the Bush administration broke its promise to Missouri school children by not fully funding the No Child Left Behind Act. Claire will fight for full funding and make Washington keep its three-decade old promise to fund 40 percent of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
Washington's broken promise on these two laws forced Missouri to dip into state coffers to comply with federal mandates, which should be federally funded. Right now, Washington has placed $229 million in unfunded mandates on Missouri through the No Child Left Behind Act and $339 million through IDEA.
Work to Raise Missouri Teachers Salaries. Average teacher salaries in Missouri rank 44th, some of the lowest in America. The state has fallen from 34th just a short time ago and is slipping. Claire believes the federal government should fund increases in teacher salaries to move Missouri teacher salaries closer to the national average.
Higher Education
Make College Tuition Affordable for All Missourians. Tuition for Missouri Universities has risen at staggering rates. Since 1999, average annual public university tuition in Missouri increased nearly 75%, from $2,238 to $3,380 in 2005. In the same period, average annual private university tuition in Missouri increased over 45%, from $9,525 to $13,841. [Chronicle of Higher Education]
Increase Pell Grants and HOPE Scholarships. Claire is working to make higher education more affordable by: increasing the maximum Pell Grant from $4,050 to $5,800 this year; doubling the HOPE Scholarship tax credit from $1,500 per student to $3,000 per student; and making the HOPE tax credit refundable. Encourage Direct Loan Lending. Under the Direct Student Loan program, the Education Department loans money to students through their colleges, bypassing the banks and student-loan-guarantee agencies that make up the rival guaranteed-loan program.
Instead of directing million-dollar subsidies to companies like Sallie Mae, Direct Lending cuts out the middlemen so that students benefit more. Direct Lending now makes about one-third of all student loans. Direct loans are significantly less expensive for taxpayers' as much as 10 cents cheaper per dollar loaned. Expanding the Direct Loan program to serve all students would save at least $2 billion a year. Such savings would permit money to go toward education, rather than lining the pockets of CEOs.
Close the Gap in Science and Math. To maintain competitiveness in the global economy, America must put a premium on quality math and science educations. Currently the U.S. is lagging behind countries like China and India in these vital areas. In 2004, India graduated five times more engineers than the U.S. and China graduated nearly nine times more. Claire supports offering increased scholarships to students who major in these areas; and incentives for math and science majors who want to teach these subjects.
Offer Student Loan Relief for Teachers and Graduates Who Enter Public Schools. Our public schools are currently facing a shortage of good teachers. To help the shortage, Claire supports forgiving the student loans of highly qualified public service teachers who commit to five years in financially struggling schools.