Apprenticeship & Union Job Pipeline

• Fund paid apprenticeships in unionized skilled trades.

Free Public College & Vocational Training

• Fully fund public universities and trade schools.

Universal Childcare & Pre-K

• ‍Provide free, high-quality early education and childcare.

Special Education & Public School Choice

• Fully Fund & Strengthen Special Education
  1. Equitable Funding: Guarantee full federal and state funding for special education programs so that schools can meet or exceed the mandates of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
  2. Inclusive Services: Promote inclusive classroom settings whenever possible, ensuring students with disabilities have the support needed to thrive alongside their peers.
  3. Protections & Accountability: Enforce robust oversight to prevent discrimination, ensure accessible facilities and materials, and hold districts accountable for meeting Individualized Education Program (IEP) goals.
• Expand Public-School Choice—Without Vouchers
  1. Oppose Private & Religious Vouchers: Reject the use of taxpayer funds for vouchers that divert resources to private or religious schools, undermining the public education system.
  2. Public Options Only: Support open-enrollment policies and magnet or specialized programs within public school districts, ensuring families can 17 choose from high-quality public school offerings that best meet their child’s needs.
  3. ‍Transparent & Equitable Admission Practices: Public-choice programs (including magnet and public charter schools) must use transparent, equitable enrollment processes and uphold all civil rights protections, especially for students receiving special education services or English language support.
• Invest in Training & Resources
  1. Professional Development: Provide ongoing, fully funded professional development for general and special educators, ensuring they have evidence-based training in inclusive teaching, behavior support, and assistive technology.
  2. Reduced Class Sizes & Support Staff: Encourage smaller class sizes, add paraprofessionals and counselors, and expand the availability of speech, occupational, and mental health services for all students.
  3. Family & Community Engagement: Parents and guardians have a voice in shaping the programs their children receive.
• Early Language Acquisition – Require all public primary schools (starting no later than Grade 1) to introduce second-language instruction as part of the core curriculum.
  1. Continuity Through Secondary Education – Ensure that second-language study continues through middle and high school, with a minimum proficiency requirement for graduation.
  2. Local & Regional Flexibility – Allow districts to prioritize languages based on community demographics, workforce needs, and diplomatic significance (e.g., Spanish, Mandarin, French, Arabic, ASL).
  3. Dual-Language & Immersion Programs – Expand funding for bilingual education and dual-immersion programs to provide students with full linguistic and cultural fluency.
  4. Teacher Training & Recruitment – Invest in certified language educators and offer financial incentives for multilingual teachers to address shortages.
  5. Public & Private Sector Partnerships – Encourage collaboration with universities, cultural institutions, and international exchange programs to enhance learning opportunities.