Issues

EDUCATION

“As governor, I want to help create an education system that prepares our children for the jobs of tomorrow. To begin, we will no longer accept one of the highest dropout rates in the country. Our students deserve quality teachers who are well educated and trained, and schools where bad teachers aren’t just transferred, but let go. But good teachers should be rewarded and they should have continuing opportunities for professional development.” – Kay Bailey Hutchison, 8/17/09

“In Texas, we must have a basic education system that prepares our children with the skills necessary to compete in the 21st century. All children should be prepared go to college if they choose and if they don’t, they should be prepared to receive continued training that allows them to compete in the job market. Ignoring these fundamental challenges is a recipe for mediocrity. Or even worse: failure. We can do better. And our future depends on it.” – Kay Bailey Hutchison, 10/13/09

A product of public schools, Kay Bailey Hutchison believes our children’s education is the first line of offense in assuring Texas’ economic viability. For the past ten years Texas’ education system has languished. If Texas is to succeed our children must have the skills necessary to meet tomorrow’s challenges. While some have treated Texas’ schools like their own political playground, Hutchison has made education a top priority throughout her career of public service. Fighting for Texas, Hutchison has:

Fought to ensure local control of public schools.

Repeatedly supported efforts to expand school choice.

Worked to ensure that teachers have the resources they need to succeed.

Led in supporting Texas’ higher education institutions. She supports developing more Tier One Universities in Texas, and has worked to significantly increase funding for research and development at Texas higher education institutions.

Worked with Texas universities to increase our state’s share of federal research money so that the advances of tomorrow come with the stamp made in Texas, making Texas the third highest recipient of federal dollars on the country, up from sixth

Created the Texas Academy of Medicine, Engineering, and Science to attract and retain the best researchers to Texas

THE KAY RECORD

Hutchison Has Been A Strong Advocate For School Choice And Charter Schools In Texas And The Nation:

Hutchison Is A Proponent Of School Choice. PBS’ CHARLIE ROSE: “Suppose there’s a school that is failing to educate kids. Should the kids have a right to move to another school?” HUTCHISON: “Yes, absolutely. You have to have some competition in schools, and you have to have an accountability in the schools, or these young people will be doomed to a poor education because they haven’t been able to get out of their district, even though it’s failing them.” (PBS’ “The Charlie Rose Show,” 11/12/07)

Hutchison Has Repeatedly Supported School Choice And Voucher Programs. (S. 1513, CQ Vote #238: Rejected 45-53: R 38-5; D 7-48, 7/27/94, Hutchison Voted Yea; S. 1156, CQ Vote #260: Rejected 58-41: R 54-1; D 4-40, 9/30/97, Hutchison Voted Yea; S. 1, CQ Vote #179: Rejected 41-58: R 38-11; D 3-46; I 0-1, 6/12/01, Hutchison Voted Yea; H.R. 1105, CQ Vote #94: Rejected 39-58: R 36-4; D 2-53; I 1-1, Hutchison Voted Yea, 3/10/09)

As Chair Of The D.C. Appropriations Subcommittee, Hutchison Worked To Ensure The D.C. Public Charter School Program Was Fully Funded, With Students In Both Public And Charter Schools Receiving The Same Amount Of Funding. (H.R. 3194, Introduced 3194, Became Public Law No: 106-113 On 11/29/99; U.S. Library Of Congress, “Senate Report 106-088 - District Of Columbia Appropriations Bill, 2000,” thomas.loc.gov, Accessed 10/8/09; Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, Congressional Record, 7/1/99, p. S8053-S8064)

Hutchison Worked To Strengthen Math And Science Education In Texas And The Nation:

In 2007, Hutchison Co-Sponsored And Passed The America COMPETES Act, Which Authorized A $21 Billion Increase In Federal Funding For Math And Science Education. (S.761, Roll Call Vote #146: Passed 88-8, 4/25/07; Later Attached As Amendment By Unanimous Consent To H.R. 2272; Became P.L. 110-69 On 8/9/07)

Dallas Morning News: Hutchison Has Spent “Years Fortifying Texas’ Math And Science Base.” “Statewide, the 63-year-old attorney has spent six years fortifying Texas' math and science base, including sponsoring legislation to expand research and development as well as college-prep classes.” (Dallas Morning News, 10/19/06)

Hutchison Expanded Texas Students’ Access To Advanced Placement Classes:

Houston Chronicle: “[Hutchison] Passed Legislation To Increase Students’ Access To College Credits Earned Through Advanced Placement Tests.” (The Houston Chronicle, 10/24/06)

In 2001, Hutchison Co-Sponsored The Access To High Standards Act To Increase Access Of Low-Income Students To AP High School Courses And Tests To Earn Credits At Institutions Of Higher Education. (S. 103, Introduced 1/22/01; Library Of Congress Website, thomas.loc.gov, Accessed 9/8/09)

The Legislation Became Law As Part Of The No Child Left Behind Act. (H.R. 1, Became Public Law No: 107-110 On 1/8/02)

Hutchison Has Supported Increases In Pell Grant Funding To Make College More Affordable For Texas Students:

Hutchison Voted For The College Cost Reduction And Access Act Of 2007, Which Increases The Annual Pell Grant Award By $490 In 2008 And By $1,090 Over Five Years. (H.R. 2669, CQ Vote #326: Adopted (Thus Sent To The House) 79-12: R 34-12; D 43-0; I 2-0, 9/7/07, Hutchison Voted Yea)

Federal Funding For Texas Pell Grants Has More Than Doubled During Hutchison’s Time In The Senate, Reaching Over $1.1 Billion In 2007. (U.S. Department Of Education, “Allocations For State Formula Programs And Selected Student Aid Programs,” www.ed.gov, 7/18/02; U.S. Department Of Education, “Funds For State Formula-Allocated And Selected Student Aid Programs,” www.ed.gov, 5/13/09; U.S. Bureau Of Labor Statistics’ Inflation Calculator, data.bls.gov, Accessed 10/10/09)

Hutchison Was The Leader In Ensuring That Texas’ Universities Were At The Forefront Of Academic Research:

Austin American-Statesman: Hutchison Created The Texas Academy Of Medicine, Engineering And Science (TAMAST) That Has Supported Academic Research Throughout Texas. “We can count among her accomplishments the creation of the Texas Academy of Medicine, Engineering and Science, a research organization that has Texas' 12 Nobel laureates and hundreds of scientists. That has moved Texas from fifth place in federal research dollars to third, adding $1 billion to research budgets.” (Austin American-Statesman, 1021/06)

TAMAST Has Put Over $1 Billion Into Our Universities. Hutchison: “It’s taken Texas from fifth in federal research dollars to third, and it's put over $1 billion in our universities.” (Austin American-Statesman, 10/17/06)

Hutchison’s Efforts Moved Texas From Sixth To Third Place Among States Receiving Federal Research Funds. “[Hutchison] also gets credit for helping to move Texas from sixth to third place among states in tapping federal research funds.” (Dallas Morning News, 10/19/06)

Hutchison Passed Legislation Helping To Recruit New Teachers Into Texas’ Classrooms:

Houston Chronicle: Hutchison’s “Amendments Encourage The Recruitment Of Quality Teachers In Midcareer.” “Few politicians have represented Texas as effectively during the last 12 years as U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison. … Her amendments encourage the recruitment of quality teachers in midcareer.” (The Houston Chronicle, 10/24/06)

Hutchison Passed Legislation Supporting Graduate Students At Hispanic Serving Institutions:

In 2007, Hutchison Co-Sponsored S. 565, The Next Generation Hispanic-Serving Institutions Act, To Provide Fellowships And Support For Hispanic Graduate Students; It Became Law As Part Of The Higher Education Reauthorization Bill. (Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, “Sen. Hutchison Passes Provision To Establish HSI Graduate Program,” Press Release, 7/24/07; H.R. 4137, Became Public Law No. 110-315 on 8/14/08)

To read the Hutchison record, please see HERE.