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"In the 21st Century, the competition for jobs and for a stake in the world marketplace will be won by the young people who are best educated. In Silicon Valley, perhaps more than in any other part of the country, we must commit ourselves to providing our students with the very best education we can give them. They will be counted on to drive the high-tech world further than we have ever dreamed and they must be prepared."
- Congressman Mike Honda
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PROVEN LEADERSHIP IN EDUCATION
Mike Honda spent two years with the Peace Corps building schools in El Salvador. That experience sparked a passion for teaching and for the educational process. After graduating with a Masters Degree in education from SJSU, Honda taught science in Sunnyvale, worked as an educational researcher at Stanford and served as a principal in San Jose. In 1981, Honda was elected to San Jose Unified School Board where he served for nine years. As a Member of the California Assembly, Honda served on the Education Committee and helped draft legislation to reduce class size. The California Federation of Teachers named him Legislator of the Year in 1999. In Congress, Honda serves on the Budget committee. Here he offered an amendment, fighting to increase funding for education programs. Congressman Honda was also awarded the "2002 Outstanding New Member Award" for his strong advocacy of education funding in Congress. |
IMPROVING ACCESS TO TECHNOLOGY FOR STUDENTS
In order for our students to be able to compete for high-paying, high-tech jobs, they must learn to use the most advanced computer and internet technology. Unfortunately, too many schools do not provide adequate access to this technology. This past term, Congressman Mike Honda introduced the National Education Technology (NET) Corps Act of 2001. This bill encourages high-tech companies to support schools by working with schoolteachers and administrators to integrate technology into classroom curriculum. It establishes a tax credit for businesses whose employees participate as volunteers within the NET Corps. |
MAKING COLLEGE AFFORDABLE
For too many families, the dream of sending their children to college is unattainable because to costs are too high. Mike believes that, if a student wants to go to college, he or she ought to have that chance. Therefore, he has supported providing tax credits and deductions for the cost of tuition and fees for parents sending their kids to college. Additionally, he has supported increasing funding for Pell Grants and continued funding for the Direct Student Loan program. |
REDUCING CLASS SIZE
As a former teacher and principal, Mike Honda has seen first-hand the problems teachers face when trying to work in overcrowded classrooms. More often than not, the learning process breaks down and students get left behind. Honda was been a consistent champion of class size reduction efforts in the California Assembly and worked to pass legislation reducing class sizes. |
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