Investing in Students, Teachers, and Communities

Every child, adult, and lifelong learner deserves access to high-quality education, safe schools, and opportunities to thrive academically, socially, and professionally. I will fight for policies that close achievement gaps, expand access, and empower communities to succeed.

Early Education

The foundation for lifelong learning begins in early childhood. I will:

• Increase funding for maternal and early childhood programs, including the Maternal, Infant, and Childhood Home Visiting Program (MIECHV) and WIC, ensuring children and families receive the care and resources they need.

• Expand Head Start and Early Head Start across the 7th District, providing low-income families with access to quality early learning programs.

• Support consistent data collection in early education, creating a framework to track and improve outcomes across early childhood providers.
  
  

K-12 Education

Students deserve safe, supportive, and well-resourced schools. I will:

• Fund school-based mental health initiatives that promote social and emotional wellness and ensure equitable access to counseling and support services.

• Protect evidence-based programs like the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program (TPP) and expand healthy school meals through the Farm to School Act, connecting children with nutritious local foods.

• Expand STEM and arts education, including grants targeting girls and underrepresented minorities, and increase support for career and technical education programs that include the arts.

• Support teacher diversity and accountability, including recruiting teachers of color and funding pilot programs that increase graduation rates for minority students.

• Invest in trauma-informed schools and restorative justice programs, funding counselors rather than additional police presence in schools.
  
  

Higher Education

Access to college should be a right, not a burden. I will:

• Champion debt-free public higher education, supporting federal funding to make public college tuition, fees, and living expenses fully covered.

• Allow student loan refinancing to reduce interest rates for borrowers and relieve financial strain.

• Hold institutions accountable for the success of minority, low-income, and ELL students, ensuring that federal resources target those who need them most.

• Pursue one-time student debt cancellation, helping nearly 50 million Americans overcome nearly $1.5 trillion in collective student debt.
  
  

Career & Continuing Education

Learning doesn’t stop after high school or college. I will:

• Support the Youth Access to American Jobs Act, funding partnerships that guide students from high school into career pathways, apprenticeships, and workforce training.

• Provide wraparound services for adult learners, including child care, health care, and elder care support to help adults complete education and career programs.

• Increase funding for adult ESL programs through Title II of WIOA, ensuring adults gain the language and literacy skills necessary to succeed academically and professionally.