Every child has a right to a quality education, yet education does not receive the funding and from the federal government needed to guarantee this right.  Our schools must be at the fore of forward thinking and our teachers must be well-equipped to take us there.  Major funding shortfalls of up to $40 billion for the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) have plagued school districts and forced teachers to focus on federally mandated testing standards without providing them the resources needed to help their students.  In order to ensure that our schools receive the funding they need, Brian supports fully funding NCLB and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

Just as every child should have the opportunity to receive a quality elementary and secondary education, every qualified high school graduate who is willing to work for it should have the opportunity to earn a college diploma.  For most Americans, financial barriers are the key factor in determining whether or not they will successfully complete college.  In the 110^th Congress, Brian was proud to work with his colleagues to help pass the single largest investment in college financial aid since the 1944 GI Bill.  The College Cost Reduction Act boosts college aid by $20 billion, increasing Pell Grant scholarship by $500 over the next five years, and cutting interest rates in half on need-based student loans.