Education
Raúl has always made improving our public education system at all levels a cornerstone of his time in Congress. He believes our nation’s long-term strength depends on an educated population. Ensuring that our children are well positioned to participate in civic society and compete economically will always be a key focus of his legislative and constituent work.
Raúl has supported the following bills during the 111th Congress, which began Jan. 6, 2009. He wrote and offered each bill listed here except the Graduation for All Act and the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act, of which he is an original co-sponsor.
Success in the Middle Act – To provide grants to States to ensure that all students in the middle grades are taught an academically rigorous curriculum with effective supports so that students complete the middle grades prepared for success in high school and postsecondary endeavors, to improve State and district policies and programs relating to the academic achievement of students in the middle grades, and to develop and implement effective middle grades models for struggling students.
Strengthening Kids’ Interest in Learning and Libraries (SKILLs) Act – Requires local educational agencies that receive school improvement funds to ensure that each school receiving such funds employs at least one state certified school library media specialist. Requires “Improving Literacy through School Libraries” funds to be: (1) proportionally distributed to serve students in elementary, middle, and high schools; (2) used for media resources appropriate for all grades; and (3) used for professional development in information literacy instruction that is appropriate for all grades.
Families Learning and Understanding English Together (FLUEnT) Act> – To improve the literacy and English skills of limited English proficient individuals.
Providing Resources to Improve Dual Language Education Act (PRIDE) Act – To establish dual-language education programs in low-income communities.
Graduation for All Act – To support high-need middle and high schools in order to improve students’ academic achievement, graduation rates, postsecondary readiness, and preparation for citizenry.
Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act – Invests $36 billion over 10 years to increase the maximum annual Pell Grant scholarship, invests $750 million to bolster college access and completion support, makes federal loans more affordable for borrowers to repay, invests $2.55 billion in Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Minority-Serving Institutions, invests $2 billion in a competitive grant program for community colleges, converts all new federal student lending to the stable, effective and cost-efficient Direct Loan program and saves taxpayers $61 billion over 10 years.
