Classrooms across Mississippi will soon be bustling with students as the new school year gets underway.  Preparing these young minds for success is a critical investment.  With more jobs requiring advanced skills, the educational foundation of today’s students will shape their future livelihoods.  Likewise, keeping our state and country competitive demands a qualified and ready workforce.

Addressing Local Needs

In Congress, education reform remains a shared goal of both political parties, despite very different views on what role the federal government should play.  Rather than expanding Washington’s influence, as Democrats have proposed, Republicans are championing measures that would empower local officials, parents, and educators to address the specific needs of students and schools in their communities.

One example is the Academic Partnerships Lead Us to Success (A-PLUS) Act, introduced earlier this summer by Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas).  I am an original co-sponsor of this legislation, which would give states the flexibility to use federal education funds for programs that best target the challenges facing their children.  Instead of spending precious time and resources on how to comply with national mandates, states would be able to focus on local initiatives for academic achievement.

Mississippi has already earned praise for its efforts to create a state-funded preschool pilot program, which recently became state law.  The program – driven by local leaders, not Washington bureaucrats – recognizes the importance of early childhood education and its potential to have a life-changing impact on Mississippi’s youth.

Empowering States

We have seen the flaws of Washington’s heavy-handed approach to governing.  Because of burdensome, one-size-fits-all standards, the Department of Education has had to grant waivers to a majority of states exempting them from the strictest requirements of current education law.  Although these waivers offer temporary relief, the Obama Administration’s decision to sidestep Congress in issuing them has added bureaucratic layers instead of solutions.  Under a better plan from Republicans, the long-overdue reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act would equip states with more control and choices in implementing effective education reforms.

Strengthening STEM Education

As we work toward better education policy, it is important to recognize the value of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) training.  According to a study by Georgetown University, science and technology jobs are on the rise, growing faster than almost any other field.  As a hub of innovation and productivity, these well-paid jobs are a crucial part of America’s economic future.

I am a strong supporter of STEM education and serve as a co-chair of the Senate’s newly launched STEM Education and Workforce Caucus – a bipartisan coalition to advance STEM initiatives.  I also recently introduced legislation with Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) to establish a Science Laureate of the United States.  Like the U.S. Poet Laureate, the Science Laureate would have a national platform to inspire students – in this case about the ways science benefits their lives and communities.

The recent passage in Congress of bipartisan legislation to reform student loans sends a positive signal that better education policy is possible.  The student loan legislation took steps to remove Washington from the business of arbitrarily fixing rates.  The same approach should drive improvements to America’s education system – less bureaucracy and more results.