WHERE I STAND Access to a Quality Education Access to Quality Healthcare Protecting Our Children From Gun Violence Fiscal Responsibility Protecting Social Security and Medicare Campaign Finance Reform Women's Issues Preserving Open Space and Our Natural Resources

Access to a Quality Education

“In preparing for this race for Congress, I wanted to better understand our public education system.  So I got my accreditation as a substitute teacher and went to work in our public schools… and what I've learned first-hand at the front of the classroom is the best education I've ever received.”

Reducing Class Size.
As a certified substitute teacher, Maryanne Connelly knows from experience that smaller classes allow teachers to provide more individualized attention and to focus on instruction, not discipline.  In fact, White House statistics show that students in the early grades who attend smaller classes make more rapid educational progress than students in larger classes.  As a Member of Congress, Connelly will work to pass legislation to hire 100,000 new teachers across the country and to reduce the student/teacher ratio in grades one through three to no more than 18 to 1.

Modernizing New Jersey’s Schools.
87 percent of New Jersey’s public schools have some serious construction problem, and a majority of schools in the state were built before World War II.  All of these problems occur against the backdrop of increased school enrollment.  Maryanne Connelly will fight in Congress for tax credits to pay for interest on nearly $25 billion in bonds to be used by local communities for public school modernization and revitalization – this will go a long way towards reducing the property tax burden in New Jersey’s towns and cities.  She will also support providing loans and grants to low-income school districts to fund urgent school repairs and modernization.

Expanding Head Start.
Head Start works to ensure a lifetime of learning and development by providing an early, rigorous, and comprehensive education to pre-school aged children.  For over three decades, Head Start has provided early education, nutrition, health and social services, and support for parents.  Children who participate in Head Start are less likely to be held back in school or be assigned to special education classes, and they tend to be healthier.  As a Member of Congress, Maryanne Connelly will fight to expand the program, so that every child has access to pre-kindergarten and the services offered by Head Start.

Increasing Accountability In Public Schools.
Maryanne Connelly believes that we should demand accountability from both our students and our schools.  Teaching discipline, respect, and responsibility should be a top priority for public schools, and social promotion of students must stop.  White House studies have shown that extended learning programs help improve student achievement and increase student safety and reduce juvenile crime.  As a Member of Congress, Maryanne Connelly will work to end social promotion and to provide more opportunities for at-risk students.