Donald Trump
Trump opposes Common Core and supports school choice. He does not believe school choice will destroy the public school system, but that people argue this because they afraid of competition. When comparing schools to businesses, he implies public schools have a monopoly on education that would be inappropriate for any other business to hold.
Trump has also spoken out against unions, noting that when unions historically back Democratic candidates, they count on those candidates to align with their views.
Jeb Bush
Bush is well known for supporting Common Core and Vouchers. He is an advocate for Common Core while stressing states should be able to opt out of it if they create their own high standards, so that the program does not become a federal mandate (as some candidates, like Marco Rubio fear).
Bush’s support of school voucher programs stems from his support and advocacy for school choice. When Bush was governor of Florida, he created an A-F rating system of schools, and stated that F schools needed to disappear in order for more A schools to thrive. He also created the country's first three voucher programs in Florida .
Ben Carson
Opposite of Jeb Bush and more in line with the GOP’s stance, Ben Carson is not a fan of Common Core, and stresses schools should be run locally rather than with heavy influence at the federal level.
Carson is also a proponent of school choice. He believes options like charter schools and voucher programs increase competition in education, something he finds necessary in order to prevent schools and students from becoming complacent.
Hillary Clinton
Clinton supports school choice, but through charter schools and opting in, not through school voucher programs. She stresses vouchers drain money and resources from public schools, and will not help improve public schools.
Clinton advocates closing tax loopholes for the rich and corporations, and funding that money into student aid for higher education.
Clinton has also demonstrated a focus on inner city schools. She supports scholarships for teachers who teach in inner city schools, and she herself volunteered teaching reading in poor Boston communities in the 1960’s.
Bernie Sanders
Sanders also does not support school vouchers and voted against a DC voucher program in 1998, as well as voted against allowing vouchers for private schools in 1997.
Sanders other hot topic is affordable higher education. He has advocated for subsidizing more student loans, and refinancing programs to make college more affordable for any student that wants to achieve a degree.
The National Education Association has rated Sanders with an 83%, meaning Sanders’ votes aligned with the NEA 83% of the time.
Posted by Haley DiRenzo
Information from On The Issues