Education

As a graduate of Los Angeles public schools, Jane Harman believes the best affirmative action policy is a quality public education that provides students with the tools they will need to succeed in adult life.

Learning is a life-long adventure – one that often begins with the federally funded Head Start program. To succeed in educating our children, Harman believes the federal government must be a partner with state and local public school systems.

	Supporting Head Start
	Funding for Early Childhood Education

That’s why she joined a bipartisan majority in Congress in supporting the “No Child Left Behind” education reform package. But Harman has been deeply disappointed by the Administration’s refusal to fully fund this important program, and has voted for additional funding to fulfill the federal government’s promise to fund its share of the costs of IDEA – the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

The Equity in Public Education Act

Jane Harman is a strong supporter of elementary and secondary education improvements, and believes the federal government should aid local school systems with repair and modernization of their facilities.

	Education Reform
	Funding for Harbor College
	School Repair and Construction

Harman believes access to higher education is critically important, and that such opportunity should extend to all law-abiding young people, including those who, regardless of their residency status, are ready to work hard and pursue their educational dreams. She is proud to cosponsor the Student Adjustment Act, legislation that would permit States to adjust the status of alien college-bound students who are long-term US residents. These individuals could then apply to public colleges and universities without the threat of possible immigration law violations.

Student Adjustment Act

In today’s changing economy continuing education is more important than ever. Harman is also a cosponsor of legislation to provide training and education programs for displaced homemakers, single parents and individuals entering nontraditional employment. She opposes school vouchers, and has voted against efforts to divert public tax funds to private and religious schools.

She strongly disagrees with a recent proposal made by the Bush Administration that would prohibit almost 700,000 students each year from taking advantage of optimal interest rates in order to lower their payments. Federal college loan programs help middle income and lower income working families pay for college in the face of rising costs for tuition, room, and board. Making college education affordable is critical for expanding opportunity and creating a talented, diverse and well-prepared work force of the future.

	Fighting for Student Loans
	Winning Money for Local Schools

Jane Harman has also:

• Cosponsored legislation to provide grants to local education agencies to encourage girls to pursue studies and careers in science, mathematics, engineering and technology.
• Cosponsored legislation to establish a national teaching fellowship program to encourage individuals to enter and remain in the field of teaching at public schools.
• Cosponsored legislation to expand the availability higher education through the Pell Grant, Hope Scholarship and Lifelong Learning Credit programs.

Jane's efforts to improve public education have earned her the endorsement of:

• The National Education Association
• The California Teachers Association
• California Federation of Teachers
• California School Employees Association
• UTLA