This is an archive of a past election.
See http://www.smartvoter.org/ca/state/ for current information.
Los Angeles County, CA March 2, 2004 Election
Smart Voter

Education Policy -Innovative Ideas for Improving Education

By Michael J. Manzo

Candidate for United States Representative; District 38; Democratic Party

This information is provided by the candidate
Bringing Real-life Education Experience to Washington

As a public and private school teacher I understand what works and what doesn't in our education system and is committed to putting this experience to work in improving our schools, public and private.

The 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:

  • Financial Aid under the Higher Education Acts (HEAs). Like the Federal Work Study program and the Federal Perkins Loans, known as "campus based programs" to help student's afford increasing tuition.

  • Support Services authorized under HEAs TRIO programs, including Talent Search and Upward Bound. TRIO programs provide grants for four and five years, and are available competitively to institutions of higher education. Projects supported by TRIO funds serve first-generation college students and students from low-income families.

  • Increase the maximum Pell grant by $1,750, from $4050 to $5,800. This will help families of approximately five million Pell grant recipients while also bringing Pell grants to 500,000 new student recipients. I am deeply concerned that college students are now facing soaring tuition increases, and without an increase in aid over 10,000 38th District students are in danger of losing their chance in college. Vast numbers of college students today are being forced to borrow tens of thousands of dollars to complete their education. Half of all college students who take part time jobs are now forced to put in more than 25 hours a week in employment. I will be a strong advocate in servicing the needs of thousands of higher education students in the 38th District.

  • Efforts to increase funding for programs on all educational levels, including the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Literacy, Libraries, Head Start, Title I, after-school programs, technology programs, National School Lunch and Child Nutrition, and Summer Food Service programs.

  • High school vocational and technical education courses. Almost 74% of high school students do not plan to attend a four-year college immediately following high school. It is crucial to both their future, and the future of our country, that they have the opportunity to prepare for meaningful careers. I will explore job training and partnerships with local businesses in the 38th District to give students hands-on experience in their career choices.

  • Resources for older learners through programs like Vocational Education Basic State Grants, Adult Education Basic Grants and Tech Prep Basic Grants, which provide a portal through which older students strive to learn and perfect new skills, opening new opportunities throughout their lives.

  • In order to relieve some of the burden on college students, I would initiate legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives that will make up to $15,000 in college tuition expenses tax deductible each year. I would also introduce legislation that will create a student loan interest tax credit of up to $2,000 per year to help offset the cost of loan repayments. The credit will be available to joint filers with an income of less than $100,000, and single filers with income of less than $50,000.

With 27% of the population in District 38 under 18 years old, there is no better investment we can make than investing in our children, particularly in their education. I am extremely concerned that education and other key programs for children are not receiving the funding and support needed from the federal government. You can count on me to speak out for children and their families, and to make them a federal priority. I will upon election to the U. S. House seek a position on the House Education and the Workforce Committee.

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.

Next Page: Position Paper 2

Candidate Page || Feedback to Candidate || This Contest
March 2004 Home (Ballot Lookup) || About Smart Voter

ca/state Created from information supplied by the candidate: February 8, 2004 16:18
Smart Voter <http://www.smartvoter.org/>
Copyright © League of Women Voters of California Education Fund.
The League of Women Voters neither supports nor opposes candidates for public office or political parties.