2020 candidates release education platforms

By Kaya Ginsky

Thursday night, the 2020 presedential candidates released their first statement of policy goals on their websites, all on the topic of education. This press release marks the first official look into the candidates’ specific goals and views on the country’s policy.

Some Republican candidates based their platforms on party issues like abolishing affirmative action and limiting government spending. However, each candidate’s specific plans set them apart from one another.

Texas Senator Mizuki Brent ( R ) set forward her policy goals by diagnosing the issues of the system and outlining her administration’s plans to solve them. Brent aims to devolve education power to the states and redirect federal student loans toward the private sector. In her statement, she calls affirmative action “reverse discrimination” which “belittles the fundamental idea of meritocracy.” She explains that while abolishing affirmative action, she will promote equality of opportunity by allocating funds to public schools in marginalized areas. She also aims to raise teacher wages nationwide directly through taxes.

Florida Senator Logan Glazier outlined his education platform through 5 steps. The first goal, his website reads, is shifting “educational decision making from the government to the families,” and supporting charter school and homeschooling. Glazier would reduce dependency on federal college loans to conserve resources, which he calls the essence of his slogan, “Contemporary Conservatism.” Glazier aims to “overhaul higher education” and fund technical-learning institutions to reduce issues facing college graduates. He writes that “one size does not fit all” and that his administration would end standardized testing. He also aims to abolish affirmative action.

Pennsylvania Senator Gideon Helf ( R) outlined his education policy upfront in list form. Helf, a likely centrist candidate, aims to provide federal grants for computer education in middle and high school and promote state initiatives for K-12 students that guarantee “no kid falls behind.” Like his fellow Republicans, Helf hopes to expand technical institutions (as well as community college). Helf also aims to promote accessibility to higher education by making it easier to set up higher education savings accounts. He is the only current Republican candidate who has not spoken on affirmative action.

The 3 Democratic Candidates also centered their platforms around Party values, like equality of opportunity and accessibility to education. Each candidate outlined their specific plans to achieve these values.

Florida Senator Grace Cabral (D) had the shortest press release, with a few sentences outlining her education platform. Her goals focus on access to higher education and “unreasonable” student debt which “targets the less fortunate.” Cabral aims to combat the issue through higher and more accessible scholarships.

Minnesota Senator Bennett Solomon (D) introduced his platform with Dr. Suess quote “The more that you read, the more things you will know, the more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” Like Glazier, Solomon aims to allow families the freedom to decide on education. Solomon focuses on equality in teacher wages and student opportunity, and writes that he will make public education “100% free.” He aims to make federal student loans more accessible and set aside education funds at birth. He also aims to make mental health a priority in high schools and guarantee healthy school lunches with funding from higher wealth taxes.

The candidates’ press release day did not pass without contreversy. Thursday Morning, Senator Glazier’s campaign went to Instagram to point out that 3 of the candidates (Brent, Hammoud, and Cabral) had not yet published their education platforms. Brent, a Republican competitor, responded the following day on Instagram, writing that FEC Chairman Ryan Derenberger extended the publication deadline to Thursday night and calling Glazier’s posts “immature methods of gaining political influence.” Glazier commented that the extension was “unanticipated” and he was responsible to expose her suspected lack of punctuality. The dispute ended with the two candidates on amicable terms, with Glazier’s recognition of their common beliefs and Brent’s agreement “put the country before ourselves.”

All candidates except Alli Hammoud had their education platforms posted by Thursday night. Monday morning, Democrat candidate Hammoud’s platform was still not posted, and he told the media that his campaign was “bonding and having too much fun.” The Daily Derenberger will release an update when Hammoud publishes his platform.

(Monday Night Update)

Democrat Alli Hammoud published his policy proposals in list form and with a paragraph summarizing his beliefs. His main focuses include tuition free Public college and better combatting student debt. Hammoud aims to raise teacher wages, restructure the "corrupt" standardized test system, and combat segregation in public schools. He plans to heavily fund the public system at the state and national level. Hammoud was the only candidate to focus on gun violence prevention to promote student safety.