Wednesday | November 16, 2016
Education was not a particularly high profile issue in the 2016 elections, but the results of the vote will have significant consequences for the future of American schools. On the subject of education, the differences between Democratic Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump, as well as the contrast between the platforms of the two parties, are as stark as any time in recent memory.
In an unprecedented attack on public schools, Trump has proposed diverting $20 billion in federal funding to vouchers for private schools and charter schools, and would eliminate a half-million teacher positions in public schools. The Republican Party platform has called for the repeal of the Common Core.
Clinton has developed detailed proposals for expanding high quality day care and for reining in the costs of post-secondary education, and spoken of the need for charter schools to educate all students, including high need students. The Democratic Party platform has called for increased transparency for charter schools, and for charter schools to supplement – not replace – district public schools.
Down ballot votes for Congress, Governors and State Legislatures will also have an important impact on American Education in the new ESSA era.
Following the November 8th elections, our panel discussed their impact on American education, from a number of different points on the political spectrum and a variety of policy perspectives on American education.
Speakers::
Rick Hess, Resident Scholar and Director of Education Policy Studies, American Enterprise Institute
Luis Huerta, Associate Professor of Education and Public Policy, Teachers College, Columbia University
Carmel Martin, Executive Vice President, Center for American Progress
Randi Weingarten, President, American Federation of Teachers
Moderator: Michelle Ringuette, Assistant to the President, American Federation of Teachers