The next United States presidential election will be held on Tuesday, November 6, 2012. It will be the 57th quadrennial presidential election in which presidential electors, who will actually elect the President and the Vice President of the United States on December 17, 2012, will be chosen. Although the race is hardly over, it is time to be considering the candidates and their stance on education.

Follow up:

Herman Cain – Mr. Cain opposes federal education schemes such as No Child Left Behind and advocates “unbundling” education. He feels that the United States Department of Education should be weaken in favor of state control of education. He believes education is the key to unlocking a prosperous future. In order to reach his goal, he proposes a system of accountability that would reward those teachers whose students excel and evaluate those whose students perform poorly. He feels that school choices should be offered by expanding school vouchers and charter schools.

Newt Gingrich – Mr. Gingrich believes that high schools are now obsolete. He would make schools and teachers compete to improve education. He thinks that we should focus on patriotic education instead of multiculturalism and feels that education is the most important factor in our future prosperity and national security. He insists that failing schools must change and supports charter schools. He would not charge interest on student loans for science and math students.

Ron Paul – Ron Paul feels that shutting down the Department of Education will improve the quality of education. This would not dismantle public schools but would encourage homeschooling and private schools with tax write-offs. Mr. Paul holds the most conservative voting record in Congress, believes in small governments, gold-backed currency, personal liberty and abolishing the federal income taxes.

Rick Perry – Mr. Perry is the longest serving governor in Texas state history. He has repeatedly attacked the “Robin Hood” plan to provide court-mandated equitable school financing for all school districts in the state. He vetoed all funding for public schools for the 2007   2008 biennium, saying he would not “approve an education budget that shortchanges teacher salary increases, textbooks, education technology, and education reforms. He now has a task force in place charged with preparing a bipartisan education plan. He expresses his pride in the enactment of the statute extending in-state tuition to undocumented immigrants who meet Texas’ residency requirements (after the students have applied for residency).

Barack Obama - Current President of the USA. Mr. Obama intends to revive “No Child Left Behind”, supports “Head Start”, and the American Opportunity Tax Credit. He recommends a Step Up plan which has community organizations and local schools providing summer learning opportunities for disadvantaged children. He supports charter schools and private investment in schools. He believes, after high school graduation that all students should undergo a year of on the job training or higher education to enable the creation of a skilled workforce within the country.

Mitt Romney – Mr. Romney believes there is a need to revamp the education system and that education should not be confined to a teacher’s union only. He advocates better pay for good quality teachers and perpetrates English immersion in schools stressing that English should be learned at a very early age. He supports “No Child Left Behind.” He supports charter educational institution and conducting immediate third party audit in underperforming school that would allow principals to replace 10% of underperforming staff. He would eliminate the Federal Department of Education. He stresses teaching the importance of economics and family values and would allow students to attend any public or private school of their choice.