With the televised debates now underway, President Barack Obama and his opponent, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, both have positions on education issues that could impact voting in the 2012 U.S. presidential election. While the White House has remained friendly to the National Education Association, Romney has raised the issue of campaign funds from teachers' unions as one he would like to address—and that is only the beginning.
From the scope of the Education Department’s jurisdiction to mounting student loan debt and funding for the Pell grant program, several high-profile issues are on the table. Here is a look at how the candidates’ views break down for five of education’s hottest topics:
1. TEACHERS’ UNIONS
Obama: Wants better teacher training made available
“You know, I just really get frustrated when I hear teacher-bashing as evidence of reform. ... What is absolutely true is, if we've got a bad teacher, we should be able to train them to get better, and if they can't get better, they should be able to get fired." (Source: USA Today)
Romney: Wants student and teacher interests put before union interests
“I want to put the kids and the teachers first. I think the teachers' union has to go behind. We've got to put our kids first.” (Source: Obama-Romney interviews by Univision Noticias, Sep 19, 2012)
2. FOR-PROFIT EDUCATION
Obama: Wants regulations to ensure students get what they pay for
The President has accused the for-profit education industry of delivering too little at too high a price, recruiting students with no realistic chance of gaining a degree or landing a job in their chosen field, and trying to “hoodwink” and “swindle” military families eligible for financial aid under the G.I. Bill. His administration want to crack down on federal aid abuses by pulling entirely from colleges failing to produce enough graduates finding “gainful employment.” (Reuters, Aug. 26, 2012)
Romney: Wants less industry regulation
Mitt Romney touts for-profit colleges as vital players to higher education, arguing that their presence keeps costs down and expands access to higher education for millions of young adults and mid-career workers. His advisers say he would repeal a federal law ensuring for-profit colleges don’t get all of their revenue from student loans, and industry leaders have contributed heavily to his campaign. (Reuters, Aug. 26, 2012)
3. PELL GRANTS
Obama: Strongly supports the Pell grant with no intention of reducing eligibility
President Obama has been a strong supporter of the Pell grant, with no intention of further reducing eligibility. He would retain the entitlement funding portion and allow increases in the maximum grant to track inflation and rises in tuition. (Source: U.S. News, Sept. 5, 2012)
Romney: Wants to “refocus” Pell grant dollars
Mitt Romney’s education plan, “A Chance For Every Child,” promises to “refocus Pell grant dollars on the students that need them most and place the program on a responsible long-term path that avoids future funding cliffs and last-minute funding patches.” Running mate Paul Ryan’s 2013 budget resolution, passed by the House, would severely reduce the grants and end the entitlement portion of the program. (Source: U.S. News, Sept. 5, 2012)
4. STUDENT LOANS
Obama: Wants to establish “Pay As You Earn” plan
The President’s website touts his support of a “Pay As You Earn” plan that caps monthly federal student loan payment at 10% of monthly discretionary income, preventing students from owing more than they can reasonably afford each month. He also supports forgiving any remaining debt after 20 years. (Sources: BarackObama.com, Politicker.com)
Romney: Wants to create more jobs so graduates can pay loans themselves
“It is very tempting as a politician to say, ‘ You know what, I will just give you some money. The government is just going to give you some money and pay back your loans for you. I am not going to tell you something that is not the truth, because you know, that is just taking money from your other pocket and giving it to the other pocket. I am not going to promise all sorts of free stuff that I know you are going to end up paying for.” (Source: Politicker.com)
Both Candidates: Agree on maintaining the current reduced interest rate
Obama and Romney greed this past summer about an extension of the discounted interest rate on subsidized federal loans, which prevented an increase from 3.4% to 6.8% on July 1. (Source: Huffington Post)
5. THE ROLE OF THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Obama: Favors more oversight
Under the Obama administration, the Department of Education has overseen the implementation of the $4 billion “Race to the Top” initiative. Obama has sent education dollars from the federal government to the states via grants and direct aid under the economic stimulus program, often in exchange for the adoption of administration-supported reforms. (Source: lohud.com, L.A. Times)
Romney: Wants to reduce the department’s budget and scope
Mitt Romney would “simplify” the structure of the federal Department of Education, and his comments on sending education dollars “back to states” have been interpreted as a sign he would reduce the department’s budget and scope. (Source: L.A. Times)
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