Education
Congressman Jonathan L. Jackson is actively advancing equitable, high-quality education in the First District. His efforts include expanding access to affordable preschool programs, advocating for equitable K-12 school funding, closing the achievement gap, and preserving the legacies of Historically Black Colleges and Universities. These specific actions demonstrate his unwavering commitment to ensuring every constituent of the First District has the opportunity to succeed.
He supported $18,600,000,000 towards Title I-A to support public schools to ensure that all children have a fair, equal, and significant opportunity to obtain a high-quality education. He cosponsored the Strength in Diversity Act, a significant piece of legislation that establishes a program through the Department of Education to award planning and implementation grants to schools. This act aims to improve diversity and reduce or eliminate racial or socioeconomic isolation in publicly funded early childhood education programs, public elementary schools, or public secondary schools.
Without teachers, the schools will not function properly. Congressman Jackson believes that teachers are the key leaders to our students’ success, which is why he supported the American Teacher Act, a legislation that creates grants to increase the minimum salary of public elementary and secondary school teachers.
The First District having a majority African American population, it has a unique need to learn about their history. Recognizing this, Congressman Jackson cosponsored the Black History is American History Act. This act mandates the inclusion of Black history as a required component of American history, ensuring that the rich heritage of the African American community is not overlooked.
As a former college professor, Congressman Jackson intimately understands the struggles of students and the importance of ensuring college affordability. His personal experience has shaped his legislative agenda, which includes increased Pell Grant funding, student loan debt relief, and increasing federal funding for institutions of higher learning. These measures aim to reverse decades of chronic disinvestment and diversify the American workforce, a cause he is deeply passionate about.
He believes everyone should have a fair opportunity to be admitted to a college or university without discrimination. That's why he cosponsored the Fair College Admissions for Students Act, a crucial piece of legislation that aimed to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to prohibit institutions of higher education participating in Federal student aid programs from giving admissions preference to students with legacy or donor status. This act is a vital step towards ensuring equal opportunities for all students.
Congressman Jackson is also aware of the challenges many low-income and minority students may face while obtaining their higher education. No one should ever go hungry to pay for textbooks. He cosponsored Closing the College Hunger Gap Act, legislation to direct the U.S. Secretary of Education to notify college students of their eligibility for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) based on information reported through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form.
As a civil rights advocate, Congressman Jackson supported the full funding of $162.4 million for the Office of Civil Rights, Department of Education, to ensure that all students have equal access to education.