Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Priorities, Politics and Funding

  • By Deb Moore
  • 03/11/16

K-12 education, an issue that affects every child in America, is one of the least talked about issues in the 2016 presidential race. While the candidates ignoring education may be short-sighted, it should come as no surprise. According to the March 2-6 Gallup poll, only 4 percent of Americans consider education the nation's most important problem. The economy and unemployment topped the list at 28 percent. Dissatisfaction with government came in second at 15 percent. At least 5 percent of Americans mention several other issues including immigration, healthcare, race relations, terrorism, the election and the federal budget deficit.  Education did not even hit the 5 percent mark. 

When it comes to politics, the K-12 education topics discussed the most by the 2016 presidential candidates include school choice, charter schools, voucher programs, common core, standardized testing, a return to state and local control, character education, and the shrinking or abolishing of the U.S. Department of Education. 

Issues where there appears to be a general consensus are:

  • every parent should have a choice, and school choice should be promoted all across the country – for the rich and for the poor;
  • charter schools should be part of the mix;
  • common core is not the right move and there should be a return to local control.

Funding for education did not even make the candidates list, so the question is – with education falling so far down on the priority list, will increased funding for K-12 become a priority in 2017.

Featured

  • Houston-Area High School Breaks Ground on 117,000SF Multi-Use Facility

    North Shore Senior High School, part of Galena Park ISD in Houston, Texas, recently broke ground on a new multi-use facility for student extracurriculars, according to a news release. The North Shore Multi-Use Facility will include dedicated practice and training space for the school’s athletics and fine arts programs.

  • Round Rock ISD Completes New Early College High School

    Round Rock ISD near Austin, Texas, recently announced that construction is complete on a new, 46,500-square-foot campus for Early College High School, according to a news release. The new facility will allow the school’s students and staff to move from portables into a permanent building and increase its enrollment to 500.

  • Full Sail University Announces First Student Housing Facility

    Full Sail University in Winter Park, Fla., recently announced that development has begun on its first student housing community, according to a news release. The university is partnering with Nvision Development for construction and long-term management of the facility, which will stand five stories and have the capacity for more than 570 beds.

  • Wisconsin District Breaks Ground on New Elementary School

    The School District of La Crosse in La Crosse, Wis., recently broke ground on a new elementary school that will consolidate the students and staff of two existing schools, according to local news. Funding for the school comes from a $53-million referendum approved in 2024.