Access to a quality education is one of the greatest building blocks to a brighter future. Every child deserves the opportunity to learn, grow, and pursue their potential, regardless of the neighborhood they grow up in or the zip code on their address. Education should be the great equalizer in our society, opening doors of opportunity and empowering the next generation to build stronger communities and a stronger nation. That means ensuring that every school has the tools, support, and resources necessary to help students thrive.

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To do that, we must fully invest in our public education system. Schools should be funded at levels that allow them to support students in every aspect of their development, including special education services, arts, after-school programs, and the resources needed to meet diverse learning needs. We must also move toward an educational model that focuses on the interests, talents, and potential of each student rather than relying too heavily on standardized testing. And we must ensure that teachers—who carry the immense responsibility of shaping the minds of our nation’s future—are paid and supported in a way that reflects the importance of their work.

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At the same time, we must strengthen our public schools rather than weaken them. Policies that divert funding away from public schools through voucher programs often leave local schools with fewer resources and greater challenges. Instead, we should be working to reinforce the public education system that serves the vast majority of American students. That commitment should extend beyond high school as well, by making public colleges and universities tuition-free for families earning less than $125,000 a year and providing meaningful student loan forgiveness. When we invest in education at every level, we invest in the promise, innovation, and long-term success of our country.