Education Reform
Having recently graduated from the Bedford school system, I know first hand the importance of a good education and the opportunities that come with it. That's why it is important to me that not only is education adequately funded across communities, but also that we have ways to make college more accessible for Bedford families. Students in NH face the highest tuition costs in the nation and are ultimately more likely to leave the state for college than anywhere else. By having a properly funded and comprehensive education system, we can ensure an equal opportunity to succeed for all Bedford students.
The Priorities
01
HIGHER EDUCATION
Increase funding for higher education and expand financial aid, ensuring that more college educated students stay in NH.
02
EQUITY
Ensure education equity to provide an equal opportunity for all NH students.
03
RESILIENCY
Better fund resilient education systems to tackle obstacles like COVID 19 and remote learning.
04
RETHINKING DISCIPLINE
Reduce the dependence on exclusionary discipline, instead utilizing restorative justice and positive behavior intervention.
05
Broader Curriculum
Diversify school curriculums to cover necessary social and civic issues.
Policies in Depth
What is
exclusionary discipline?
Exclusionary discipline refers to suspensions and expulsions that displaces students from an educational setting. Not only do these fail to show any reduction in undesirable behavior, they also hurt potential for success and increase risk of juvenile activity. These actions also disproportionately affect students of color (which make up 14% of NH but 23% of student suspensions) and people with disabilities (who are 5.5 times more likely to be suspended). As state rep, I will find alternatives to exclusionary discipline that work for all NH students.
How can schools cover a broader range of issues?
In light of recent social justice movements, it has become increasingly clear that more needs to be done to include Black history and racial justice into our classrooms. Students need to be given the space to learn and discuss current social issues in a way that allows everybody to make their own informed decisions. Ways to have a broader curriculum includes instituting electives on Black history, including more sources and literature from BIPOC authors, and covering more world history.
Why should we expand college funding?
In 2015, The Washington Post found that NH had more students leaving the state for college than any other, with the sole exception of Vermont. This is a problem, because students who leave the state for school tend to stay out of state. Retaining more college graduates in NH means a more productive workforce and a more vibrant economy. A study done by the National Bureau of Economic Research found that a 20% reduction in tuition can translate to 2-10% more college graduates in that state.