Jane Harman: “as a product of the Los Angeles public school system, I know the value of public education. As a businesswoman, I also…”

“as a product of the Los Angeles public school system, I know the value of public education. As a businesswoman, I also know the value of flexibility to allow our schools to develop innovative solutions to the problems our public education system faces today. Too many of our schools today are starved for funding, frustrated by regulations that hamstring their ability to create the programs they know will help students, or held unaccountable for providing a substandard education to students. The status quo for public education is unacceptable. Thoughtful reform that improves opportunities for all students is the only path that builds an exceptional education system. By improving our public education system, we reduce inequalities between individuals of different economic and racial backgrounds. I firmly believe that a quality education for all students is the best affirmative action program for our nation. To achieve this goal, elementary and secondary education must provide students the skills they need to excel in the new economy. This means first and foremost an emphasis on basic skills--schools cannot graduate students without strong reading, writing, and analytical skills. But we must also ensure that students are well versed in the latest technologies and have the opportunity to develop their full potential in the arts, sciences, or literature.”