Jason Lee Jones for Congress - Policy Positions

Education Objectives

I understand that meeting today's challenges will require the most educated generation in this country's history. In today's increasingly global economy, America's leadership, economy, and national security all rest on our commitment to educating and preparing our people for success. With the stakes so high, I will dedicate myself to strengthening America's schools and supporting comprehensive educational plans ranging from preschool to college.

In Congress, I will push for Universal Preschool. Congress must ensure that every parent has access to high-quality, affordable preschool by creating a Pre-K Incentive Fund that matches state funds - dollar for dollar - in providing free, high-quality preschool to 4-year-olds from families with incomes below $50,000 and matches state dollars on a sliding scale thereafter. States should have considerable flexibility to build on their existing preschool programs and use a variety of providers to deliver preschool, including Head Start and child care programs. Federal funds must supplement, not supplant, existing programs. In addition to his preschool initiative, I will work to increase funding for Head Start and invest in infant and toddler programs.
Congress should also increase the number of nationally board certified teachers and provide incentives for them to go where they are needed most low-performing, high-poverty schools. By paying for the cost of national board certification for any teacher who commits to teach in a high need school for five years and providing them with a nominal yearly salary supplement, Congress could ensure that every school has experienced teachers.
As your Representative, I would advocate funding the creation of a set of model K-12 American education standards to be adopted voluntarily by states in exchange for additional resources and increased flexibility under the No Child Left Behind Act. As a result of 50 different sets of academic standards, America's highly-mobile student-aged population moves through the nation's schools gaining widely varying levels of knowledge, skills, and preparedness. In order for the United States to compete in a global economy, we must compete as one nation. World-class K-12 American education standards in math, science and language arts are a first step in maintaining America's economic edge. It is time American students reclaim their position as world leaders in academic excellence.
Congress must also provide funding to schools that wish to lengthen their school day to extend student learning opportunities. Extended learning will allow participating schools to spend more time on core academics and to provide a fuller curriculum and enrichment activities in areas such as the arts, technology, and service learning. It will also give additional opportunities to at-risk students, provide for development and planning on the part of teachers, and benefit working parents.
To produce high performing students, we need safe and cutting-edge schools. Congress must make funds available for the construction of new schools and the modernization of existing schools. The federal government should provide tax credits to bond holders in lieu of interest payments, and the state or school districts should only be responsible for paying principals. Priority must be given to districts that have a greater number or percentage of low-income children, have an immediate need to address safety concerns, and are working to reduce class size, or demonstrate a commitment to green technologies.
It is imperative that Congress makes college affordable and accessible. As your Representative, I will work to end corporate welfare in student loans. Congress must end the outdated corporate subsidies for banks and increase competition for lower interest rates on student loans by requiring banks to compete in a federally-run auction to offer federal student loans. I believe that student loans would become cheaper for taxpayers as lenders bid down the amount of federal subsidy they require to do business. To be effective, the auction must be regionalized with each auction including a mix of national lenders, regional lenders, and nonprofits. All savings must be used to provide additional financial aid for students and improve college-readiness.
I believe Congress should raise the amount given in the Pell Grant. To be effective, Congress must increase the Pell Grant by $100 each year to ensure that qualified, hard-working, low- and moderate-income students can afford college without taking out an exorbitant amount of student loans. Congress should not allow students to be shut out of college because of cost.
I strongly believe that community college should be available to all Americans. In Congress, I will push to match dollar for dollar any tuition reduction offered by the state up to 50% of the cost of tuition to subsidize in-state tuition at public community colleges for students earning credit towards an associate's degree. To receive the one-to-one match, states must maintain their level of state appropriations for public community colleges from the year before. If a state agrees to pay half the cost of a community college student's tuition, community college will become free for that student. Congress should also create legislation that requires the federal government to provide low-cost bonds to community colleges as a means to accommodate more students by expanding their infrastructure.
All public schools should have the chance to supplement their curricula with online courses. Congress should grant funds to school districts, states, nonprofits, and universities to create and make advanced or specialized online courses available. Virtual courses will offer all students, regardless of geographic location, a chance to connect with highly qualified teachers and supplemental course materials while providing a more personalized learning experience. The fund must also set aside dollars for research into how students learn using new technologies via the internet.