Education, Youth & Families
Senator Feinstein believes every child deserves a high-quality education starting with early learning programs including Head Start and preschool and continuing through post-secondary education. As a Senator, she has been a strong advocate for the Head Start program working to ensure that it has the funding it needs and continues to attract excellent teachers. To entice Head Start teachers and administrators, Senator Feinstein has sponsored legislation offering student loan forgiveness in exchange for 5 years of service.

Senator Feinstein is also working to make sure that federal education funds are invested where they are needed most. She strongly supports increased funding for major education programs including No Child Left Behind, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, and Title I. Specifically, she has introduced legislation to direct Title I funds to focus primarily on improving academic performance and is a co-sponsor of the Quality Education for All Act, a bill to sharply increase education funding across a broad range of programs. Senator Feinstein is also a sponsor of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act, legislation to ensure that rural schools have a more steady and reliable source of funding.

Another important initiative for Senator Feinstein is to expand access to college and graduate school. She is a longtime supporter of the Pell Grant program that gives so many American students access to college and is working to expand vocational education programs and graduate study opportunities. And, as a member of the Senate Afterschool Caucus, Senator Feinstein advocates a stronger investment in afterschool programs which help so many at-risk children stay and succeed in school.

Recent Press Releases, Op-eds and Statements