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Los Angeles County, CA | March 2, 2004 Election |
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Education Policy -Innovative Ideas for Improving EducationBy Michael J. ManzoCandidate for United States Representative; District 38; Democratic Party |
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Bringing Real-life Education Experience to WashingtonThe strength of any business lies in the quality of its employees. In the business world, there is no substitute for a well-trained, well-educated workforce. States and communities that have succeeded economically have done so because they invested in a quality public education system that offered opportunity and advancement to each and every student, creating a strong pool of people from which to build a workforce. In the 38th Congressional District, less than one of four people 25 years and over has a Bachelor's degree or higher. That is not good enough. According to the Department of the Census, 26% of people have not graduated high school, and 43% have a high school diploma. Nearly 5% of our teenagers are dropouts from high school. They are not enrolled in school and had not graduated from high school. Education is also more than simply preparing for the workforce. It is a student exploring the community around them, and the world beyond their community. A quality education is essential for students as people, as well as for the 38th District to begin to grow economically. As the state is facing major cutbacks in higher education and students are locked out of classes because of budget cuts, I will be a strong supporter of California's institutions of higher education. Higher education is extremely important not just to California students, but also to the state's economy. In the 38th Congressional District alone there are 3 colleges and universities, as well as 3 major community colleges. We have over 100,000 students enrolled in institutions of higher education, a population equal to the size of the Hacienda Heights and Pomona. The colleges bring in over $4 billion in income. Over 19,000 people work for these colleges and universities, comprising about 17% of the District's workforce. Education is a critical foundation of our district's future. A college degree is almost a requirement to successfully compete in the workforce of today's global economy, and I will support and expand in the 38th District:
Lastly, I will personally visit each elementary, middle, high school, community college, and college in the 38th District to discuss my concerns for educational opportunities. First, I will introduce a Teacher Quality Initiative to recruit, train, and reward good teachers. The initiative also includes such new proposals as funding to award grants to high-poverty school districts to help them attract and retain high-quality teachers through better pay and higher standards. And second, introduce programs that provide financial assistance for students who pursue a bachelor's degree with the goal of teaching in high-need communities after graduation. Employing new teachers is extremely important - In the next 10 years, the U.S. will need to hire 2.2 million teachers. One half to two-thirds of these new hires will be a first-time teacher, as more than a million veteran teachers are on the verge of retiring. |
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