Tag Archives: Kamala Harris

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Stark Contrast

Trump is “all in” on school privatization, Harris stands with public schools

As Donald Trump and Kamala Harris prepare to debate tonight, the education agenda of each candidate deserves a look.

NPR digs in to some key issues, and the differences are stark.

School privatization, for example:

First, he’s [Trump] calling for universal school choice. This would, in theory, take public dollars normally spent on a child’s public education and give them directly to parents to spend at whatever school they want, whether it’s public, private or homeschooling at the kitchen table.

By contrast:

Harris has been an outspoken supporter of public education and has been courting educators’ support.

Democrats, on the other hand, made clear in their 2024 platform that they’re against any effort that could weaken the nation’s public schools. “We oppose the use of private-school vouchers, tuition tax credits, opportunity scholarships, and other schemes that divert taxpayer-funded resources away from public education. Public tax dollars should never be used to discriminate.”

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The Free Lunch Guy

Harris makes a policy statement with VP pick

Vice President Kamala Harris has chosen Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate.

Walz is a former teacher, union member, and solid progressive.

And in Minnesota, he signed a law making school breakfast and lunch free for every kid, every day.

This may seem amazing to people in Tennessee. Here, lawmakers and Gov. Lee are focused on giving $500 million to the Tennessee Titans, privatizing state roads, and offering $1.6 billion in corporate tax giveaways.

While proposals to make school meals free for all kids in Tennessee have been presented – by both Democrats and at least one Republican – they have consistently been shot down.

Lunchroom Bullies

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The President and Education Policy

A preview of a potential Harris Presidency

Kamala Harris’s bid for the White House offers an opportunity to examine the President’s impact on education policy.

While the federal government and President don’t directly dictate education policy (this is primarily a state and local function), an Administration can certainly set a tone and some parameters.

And, certainly, broad policies like No Child Left Behind had impacts felt at the school level.

Joe Biden has been a friend to public education, and Kamala Harris would likely not deviate from that.

A look at her record reveals someone who has been a supporter of public education and public school educators.

Harris’ very first speech on the US Senate floor was in opposition to the nomination of Betsy DeVos as Trump’s Secretary of Education, shredding her for an utter lack of qualifications and experience.

She’s also called for a significant pay hike for teachers. This echoes the call by Sen. Bernie Sanders to make the minimum starting pay for all teachers $60,000.

While the federal government does not set state and local pay scales for teachers, federal funding could be distributed in such a way as to effectively give teachers a raise.

Moreover, when the message coming from the White House is “boost teacher pay and invest in schools,” state policymakers are more likely to move in that direction – especially in states where the leadership is of the same party as the President.

In her first week as a candidate, Harris addressed the American Federation of Teachers and argued in favor of increased teacher pay and measures to reduce the risk of gun violence at schools.

Should she become President, her record suggests she would stand with public schools and support teachers.

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Potential VP’S VP

Josh Shapiro has a voucher problem

With some reports indicating that Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro is on the short list to become Vice President Kamala Harris’s running mate, a key problem is emerging for Shapiro: School vouchers.

Public education advocates have taken notice of Shapiro’s open support of using public money to fund unaccountable private schools.

Shapiro is often referred to as a moderate in his party, and it strikes me that a Democrat can earn the “moderate” label simply by selling out public schools and supporting privatization schemes like charter schools or vouchers.

It appears Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz is now on the shortlist as well. Walz is a staunch supporter of public schools and signed a law ensuring free school meals for all kids in Minnesota schools.