Hillary Clinton
On Common Core:
Appears to not be a big fan of Common Core learning, but stresses the importance of national educational standards. “I’ve always believed that we need to have some basis on which to determine whether we’re making progress, vis-à-vis other countries who all have national standards,” Clinton said in an interview with Newsday in April.
On school choice:
Supports teachers unions and has called for better pay for educators. Also expressed her support for charter schools at the National Education Association where she called for an end to wars over education.
On higher education:
Has put forward a plan that includes free tuition at public colleges and universities for students whose families earn $125,000 annually. Her $500 billion plan would require tax increases on the rich so that more students could graduate without debt.
Samantha Moore/ Art Director
Donald Trump
On Common Core:
Regularly refers to the program as “education through Washington, D.C.” Trump wants to end Common Core education and focus on educating locally.
On school choice:
Trump’s visits to charter schools signals his support for options beyond traditional education. “We will rescue kids from failing schools by helping their parents send them to a safe school of their choice,” Trump said during the National Republican Convention in July.
On higher education:
Though he has a degree from Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, Trump has said very little about what he plans to do to help students pay for college. He has criticized the government for profiting off student loans and has said that he empathizes with students dealing with the rising cost of tuition.