John McCain on Education
• I want schools to answer to parents and students. (Sep 2008)
• Pay bonuses to teachers in the most troubled schools. (Jul 2008)
• Target funding to recruit top graduates as teachers. (Jul 2008)
• Direct $750 million to build virtual schools. (Jul 2008)
• Give parents easier access to obtain help for their children. (Jul 2008)
• Shake up failed school bureaucracies with competition. (Jun 2008)
• Teaching creationism should be decided by school districts. (Jun 2007)
• Believes in evolution, but sees the hand of God in nature. (May 2007)
• Against nationally imposed standards & funding strings. (Feb 2000)
• Teach virtues in all schools. (Dec 1999)
• Enlist retirees for tutoring. (Nov 1999)
• Good teachers should earn more than bad lawyers. (Oct 1999)
• Decisions on teaching evolution should be made locally. (Aug 1999)
• Help unqualified teachers find other lines of work. (Jul 1999)
• Supports tax-free savings accounts for education expenses. (Jul 1999)
• Supports “Reading Excellence”; and rewarding good schools. (Jul 1999)
• Supports at-risk programs; homeless ed.; anti-drop-out ed. (Jul 1999)
• Internet access, with filters, at every school & library. (Jun 1999)
• Merit pay & competency testing for teachers. (Jun 1999)
• Ed-ACT Bill: college plans; language proficiency. (May 1999)
School Choice
• Vouchers and school choice for all. (Jul 2008)
• Offer more choices to those who wish to become teachers. (Jul 2008)
• Place parents & children at the center of education. (Feb 2008)
• We need more choice and competition in education. (Dec 2007)
• Charters, homeschooling, & vouchers are key to success. (Dec 2007)
• Local charters are the best Arizona schools. (Mar 2000)
• Let states decide if they link vouchers to student testing. (Feb 2000)
• Use sugar, oil, and ethanol subsidies to finance vouchers. (Jan 2000)
• Tax breaks for charters - not from public school funds. (Dec 1999)
• Vouchers & charters will improve our school system. (Oct 1999)
• Nationwide test of school vouchers. (Sep 1999)
• $5B program for 3-year test of school vouchers. (Jul 1999)
• Tax-funded vouchers for private schools or charter schools. (Jun 1999)
• Shift policy-making from bureaucrats to parents. (May 1999)
• Vouchers needed where teachers fail. (May 1999)
• Vouchers for any schools; more charter schools. (Jul 1998)
Voting Record
• Unrestricted block grants--let states decide spending. (Feb 2000)
• Voted NO on $52M for "21st century community learning centers". (Oct 2005)
• Voted NO on $5B for grants to local educational agencies. (Oct 2005)
• Voted NO on shifting $11B from corporate tax loopholes to education. (Mar 2005)
• Voted NO on funding smaller classes instead of private tutors. (May 2001)
• Voted NO on funding student testing instead of private tutors. (May 2001)
• Voted NO on spending $448B of tax cut on education & debt reduction. (Apr 2001)
• Voted YES on declaring memorial prayers and religious symbols OK at schools. (May 1999)
• Voted YES on allowing more flexibility in federal school rules. (Mar 1999)
• Voted YES on education savings accounts. (Jun 1998)
• Voted YES on school vouchers in DC. (Sep 1997)
• Voted YES on $75M for abstinence education. (Jul 1996)
• Voted YES on requiring schools to allow voluntary prayer. (Jul 1994)
• Voted NO on national education standards. (Feb 1994)
• Focus educational resources to help those with greatest need. (Jul 2001)
• Require state standards, regular assessments, and sanctions. (Jul 2001)
• Support Ed-Flex: more flexibility if more accountable. (Jul 2001)
• Rated 45% by the NEA, indicating a mixed record on public education. (Dec 2003)
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