Obama's Education Plan

by Pattie Hughes | More from this Blogger

30 Oct 2008 05:16 PM

As a mother of four and a certified teacher, the education plans of the candidates are always a big subject with me. This is a concern for families around the country as well. Barack Obama has come out with a three point plan to reform and improve education in the United States. The plan is broken down into early childhood, K-12 education and higher education.

The early childhood education plan is called the "Zero to Five Plan". The focus is on improving the quality and expanding Head Start and help states with funding to offer voluntary, universal preschool. This would not be mandatory preschool, but would be available to families who want to send their kids to preschool.

Reform No Child Left Behind: NCLB was enacted after George Bush became president. Funds were promised, but never delivered. Obama has pledged to deliver on the broken promises for funding needed to get more teachers and support personnel into schools where children aren't making adequate progress. In addition, Obama has proposed improving accountability and methods used to track student progress.

Obama is supportive of charter schools and wants to expand funding to charter schools, but only in states that improve accountability and close charter schools that aren't performing up to standards. Other plans for K-12 schools include recruiting new teachers in math and sciences, offer additional support to kids with Limited English Proficiency and increase funding for after school programs.

The final part of Obama's plan involves offering assistance to families who want to send their kids to college, but can't afford the cost of tuition. The American Opportunity Tax Credit would make the first $4,000 free and cover 2/3 of the tuition at public colleges and universities. In exchange, students would be required to perform 100 hours of community service per semester.

There is one aspect of Obama's plan that has teachers' unions unhappy. He is in favor of merit pay for teachers. Although not thrilled with this aspect of the plan, the National Education Association has endorsed Barack Obama for president. In addition, a group of 61 Nobel Laureates in Science have jointly endorsed Obama and his plan for new initiatives in science were named as one of the reasons in the endorsement letter signed by all 61 scientists.

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Obama's Health Care Plan

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Learn more about Pattie Hughes

Pattie Hughes is a freelance writer and mother of four young children. She and her husband have been married since 1992. Pattie holds a degree in Elementary Education from Florida Atlantic University.

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