Education
Affordable Quality Education
Every child deserves a world-class education. I will champion increased funding for our schools, support teachers, and ensure that our students have the resources they need to succeed. From pre-k to post graduate degrees, we all benefit from a more educated population, resulting in better informed decisions and more qualified decision makers in every field. Affordable education is a gateway to higher average wages and thus more tax revenue as well as a less government/safety-net dependent community. There are no downsides to a more educated community and we should invest every dollar we can into making sure that every Massachusetts resident is able to reach their potential through every avenue available.
Unfortunately, the lack of government oversight and inadequate measures over the past few decades has allowed education to become a for-profit business above all. College aspirations come with a sticker price well above the average median annual income, requiring young adults yet unable to drink, smoke, or rent cars to take on student debt that will take them several decades to pay back. Grand promises of student debt forgiveness make for an effective political tool for election, but does little to alleviate the financial struggles and burdens Massachusetts families endure everyday to get some basic education. When elected, I will work with educators and legislators to explore innovative ways to make education more affordable outright, drastically reducing the amount of debt students and families need to take on to reach their full potential. I will prioritize funding for schools, teachers, and resources to empower our future scholars. Because for me, investing in education is a no-brainer!
The Problem Explained.
If you so much as begin to type the word 'Student' in google or a similar search engine, the algorithm starts filling out the second word as 'Loans' automatically. That's how pervasive the student loans problem is in our community. John Oliver does an exceptional job of explaining this issue in a concise, yet powerful, way illustrating the frustrating challenges our students face for decades after a only few years of college education. The crippling effects of student loans effectively delay or prevent our young from achieving critical milestones of adulthood such as becoming home owners or parents, irreversibly depreciating their quality of life. I do not want this future for my daughter and her generation. We must act now, if we want the next generation of college students to max out their potential without maxing out their student loans.
Proposed Actionable Steps
Increase state funding for public colleges and universities, thus reducing their need to take out loans for infrastructure upgrades and repairs. This reduces their need to pass on the related expenses to students through fees and increasing tuition rates. The commonwealth is covering less and less of building and maintenance costs for public universities, increasing campus debt that is ultimately passed down to the students. Click here and here to find out more about the issue of campus debt leading to even more student debt.
Propose and support legislation that addresses student debt by creating and expanding state-funded loan forgiveness programs.
Introduce legislation that allows borrowers to refinance their student loans at lower interest rates.
Advocate for policies that address disparities and promote equity among the marginalized communities.
Increase financial literacy through state sponsored educational programs that teach students and families about loan repayment options and responsible borrowing.
Leverage technology and innovative solutions to reduce the cost of higher education. Encourage online class offerings to bring down the expenses related to room and board as well as travel and transportation related expenses.