Left: Kamala Harris; Right: Donald Trump

Photo Courtesy of NPR

Angelina Zhang ‘26 and Navya Nadkarni ‘25

OPINIONS EDITORS

With the presidential election a little over a month away, it’s more important than ever to stay updated on the candidates’ views and policies. A key issue that is especially relevant to Unionville is education. Each candidate has discussed different beliefs and future education plans, so the election outcome could drastically alter the country’s education system.

The Democratic nominee, Kamala Harris, has always been outspoken about her support for public education. She herself is a beneficiary of public education, having graduated from UC Law San Francisco. Currently, Congress advocates for local schools and enforces school funding for districts. As per the Save Our Schools Arizona Network, Harris believes that public education is the cornerstone of our nation and democracy. Additionally, since her campaign in 2019, Harris has called attention to the issue of underpaid teachers. The Harris administration opposes the defunding of public education while advocating for students of all ages, furthering their mission of supporting early childhood education. Programs such as Head Start, which provides

funding for early childhood learning programs for low-income families, are backed by the Biden-Harris administration. This past summer, the Biden-Harris administration also announced a three-phase plan for states to receive a $190 million investment to improve health, safety, and lower energy costs in K-12 public schools across the country.

On the other hand, the Republican nominee, Donald Trump, has been a strong advocate for closing the U.S. Department of Education, arguing that education should be administered by the states. The U.S. Constitution does not discuss federal involvement in the education system, so many Republicans agree that the Department should be discontinued. Trump also advocates for the adoption of universal school choice. Universal school choice gives parents the right to use their money for personal school choice, both public and private, instead of utilizing money for public school funding. Trump further pushes for a Parental Bill of Rights, where parents are given a much larger amount of authority over their children’s education. Parents would be able to fire and hire school officials based on their judgment along with ending tenure for teachers and mandating merit pay. When considering early childhood education, Trump has consistently opposed Head Start, promoting the elimination of the program entirely. He continues to push for de-federalizing education and desires for state-

mandated education. Additionally, during Trump’s 2016 term, his administration proposed substantial cuts in funding to public education every year.

Students who are beginning to participate in the nation’s politics must educate themselves on the candidates and what they advocate for. Both candidates’ education policies will have a direct effect on the Unionville community and one should carefully consider their options.