Debbie Benefield

July 13, 2010

Painful Cuts to our Public Schools
by State Representative Debbie Benefield (Westminster)

Millions of dollars were cut from both Higher Education and K-12 budgets this year.  Next year we will probably have to cut even more in order to maintain a balanced state budget. As a result, tuition at our colleges and universities is sky-rocketing, making it unaffordable for many of our college kids. And class size is growing in our K-12 schools, making it harder for teachers to meet the needs of each individual student.

As a long-time PTA leader, a parent, and a state representative, I know just how vital our public education system is to our society’s success. Education is the economic engine that powers a thriving economy, because business tends to locate where they have a pipeline of well-educated workers. I remain committed to minimizing further cuts to our schools as much as possible, giving our children the opportunities they need to succeed and to recognizing the tremendous contributions of our teachers.  

That is why I sponsored a bill to create a youth program to provide funding for before- and after-school programs for middle school students. Some of our children face many challenges to achieving success in school, including difficult home lives. Before- and after-school programs offer these kids, who might otherwise be home alone, an opportunity to socialize and learn in a safe and enriching environment.

I also sponsored a bill that will help families by making the process of finding child care and education services easier. The bill establishes a universal application for financial aid for early childhood services, which saves parents time and energy, while streamlining the application process for better government efficiency. When a family needs help, they should be able to get it quickly and not have to jump through a bunch of hoops and navigate government red tape.

Last year, I sponsored a bill that created the Teacher Identifier Program, which uses information about a teacher’s training and experience to evaluate their performance and the effectiveness of training programs. It also helps identify the most successful teachers so that they may become mentors to other teachers. This legislation will help ensure that every child, regardless of where they live, or how much money their parents make, has access to a high-quality teacher.

Despite significant budgetary woes, which promise to continue into the near future, I pledge to do everything I can to minimize the impact on our public schools, from preschool to higher education. Our kids deserve a quality education system because today’s students are tomorrow’s leaders, for not only our state and nation, but our global economy too.