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JOHN McCAIN REVEALED: EDUCATION

How does John McCain feel about teacher unions? He says: “It’s time to break the grip of the education monopoly that serves the union bosses at the expense of our children.” (New York Times, 2/11/00)

John McCain supports private school vouchers and other unproven schemes that undercut public education. He has voted against multiple efforts to fully fund No Child Left Behind, leaving schools with strict requirements without providing the resources necessary to help meet those requirements. He has opposed efforts to make college more affordable for middle class families.

McCAIN’S MIXED MESSAGE ON NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND

McCain voted for NCLB, a signature issue for the Bush administration. He says the law is a “good start” and that the threat of tough sanctions—closing schools and privatizing them—gives schools and educators a big incentive to succeed. (Wall Street Journal, 5/29/08)

While McCain said for the first time during a speech at the NAACP that he will fully fund NCLB, he repeatedly voted against fully funding it while in the Senate, leaving schools with strict requirements but without the resources to meet them. (Vote 371, 12/18/01; S.Amdt. 2719 to S.C.R. 95, Vote 35, 3/10/04; S.C.R. 23, Vote 60, 3/19/03; H.J.R. 2, Vote 5, 1/16/03; NAACP Convention 7/16/08)

McCAIN’S PRIORITY OF MAINTAINING THE BUSH TAX CUTS WOULD DRASTICALLY CUT EDUCATION FUNDING

McCain Has Proposed a Freeze on Discretionary Spending That Would Severely Affect Education Programs. McCain has proposed a “one-year pause” in discretionary spending that would result in drastic cuts to our most important education programs. (McCain campaign website)

McCAIN WOULD DIVERT PUBLIC SCHOOL FUNDS TO PRIVATE SCHOOLS

McCain made private school vouchers the centerpiece of his education platform. Private school vouchers divert public education funds to private schools instead of building a system that benefits all students. In a recent speech, McCain stated, “School choice for all who want it...will be part of a serious agenda of education reform.” (NAACP Convention 7/16/08)

McCain Has Voted Repeatedly for Voucher Programs for Almost 20 Years

• McCain voted for an amendment that would have created a program to allow three states and 10 school districts to use federal funds to pay for private school expenses. (S. 1, Vote 179, 6/12/01)
  
• McCain called for a three-year, $5.5 billion test of school vouchers for 1 million students. (New York Times, 2/11/00)
  
• McCain supported private school vouchers by voting to end a filibuster blocking a risky school vouchers scheme in Washington, D.C. (S.Amdt. 1249, Vote 260, 9/30/97)

McCAIN HAS OPPOSED IMPORTANT EDUCATION PROGRAMS

McCain Voted Against Funding for After-School Programs. McCain voted against additional funding for after-school programs under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965. (S.Amdt. 1609 to S.Amdt. 1542 to H.R. 2660, Vote 340, 9/10/03)

McCain Voted Against Funding for Head Start. McCain has voted repeatedly against funding for Head Start programs, as recently as 2005. In 2003, McCain voted against increasing spending on Head Start programs by $24 billion and on after-school programs by $18 billion over 10 years. That year, he also voted against a Democratic effort to add $350 million to Head Start, the federal program for poor preschool children. In 2001, McCain voted against fully funding Head Start to ensure that all eligible children have access. (S.Amdt. 2254 to H.R. 3010, Vote 272, 10/26/05; S.C.R. 23, Vote 86, 3/25/03; H.R. 2660, Vote 333, 9/9/03; H.R. 1836, Vote 154, 5/22/01)

McCain Voted Against School Repairs and Construction. McCain voted against $1.6 billion in school construction funding to repair the most dilapidated school buildings. (S. 1, Vote 108, 5/16/01)

McCain Opposed Efforts to Increase Funding for Special Education and Education and Health Programs. McCain voted against allowing an amendment to increase funding for special education and against $7.1 billion for education and health programs. (S.Amdt. 2292 to H.R. 3010, Vote 273, 10/26/05; S.Amdt. 3048 to S.C.R. 83, Vote 58, 3/16/06)

McCAIN OPPOSED EFFORTS TO INCREASE ACCESS TO HIGHER EDUCATION

McCain Opposed Efforts to Increase Aid and Improve Access to Higher Education. McCain consistently has voted against improving access to college through student aid and better loan conditions. He opposed increasing Pell Grants and restoring cuts to student aid while supporting restricted eligibility for student aid. (S.Amdt. 1602 to H.R. 2660, Vote 339, 9/10/03; H.C.R. 95, Vote 114, 4/28/2005; S.Amdt. 1602 to H.R. 2660, Vote 339, 9/10/03)

McCain Voted Against the College Cost Reduction and Access Act. McCain voted against the College Cost Reduction and Access Act, which increased access to Pell Grants, lowered interest rates for Stafford loans, provided funding for Upward Bound programs and provided grants for people entering the teaching profession. The bill helped increase access to higher education for middle class and low-income families by defraying some of the costs that prevent them from continuing their education. (H.R. 2669, Vote 272, 7/20/07)

McCAIN HAS NOT SUPPORTED EDUCATORS

McCain Opposed Measures to Reduce Class Size. Even though research shows that reducing the number of students in a class is one of the best ways to improve achievement, McCain voted against a measure that would have helped reduce class sizes across the country by authorizing funds to help local school districts recruit, hire and train 100,000 new teachers. (S. 280, Vote 41, 3/3/99)

McCain Voted Against Funding for Teacher Quality Programs. McCain voted against additional funding for teacher quality programs, Mathematics and Science Partnerships and school leadership programs under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and the Higher Education Act of 1965. (S.Amdt. 1613 to S.Amdt. 1542 to H.R. 2660, Vote 343, 9/10/03)