How Kay Votes On: Education

Failing Grade From the National Education Association

The mission of the National Education Association (NEA) is to "promote the cause of quality public education and advance the profession of education". Their rating of Sen. Hutchison shows they don't think she's helping to promote those causes very often.

You can see their latest Senate scorecard, which gives Sen. Hutchison an "F". That's consistent with all of her grades so far: 

	109th, 1st Session (2005)   0%
	108th, 2nd Session (2004)  30%
	108th, 1st Session (2003)  36%
	107th, 2nd Session (2002)   0%
	107th, 1st Session (2001)  30%
	106th Congress (1999-2000)  0%

That's an average so far of 16%. Even grading on a curve, that's an "F-minus".

Here's a sampling of the education issues Sen. Hutchison voted against in the most recent Congressional session:

Support of Single-Sex Public Education

The concept of single-sex education is controversial. Proponents claim that separating girls in one school and boys in another will allow both sexes to learn better. They point to studies claiming improved results at such schools.

Those studies, however, are hardly conclusive. They fail to take into account the many other variables involved when evaluating students at expensive and exclusive private schools. Single-sex school proponents would roll back the hard-won desegregation gains of the civil rights era. Worst of all, those proponents and studies would divert much-needed funds and attention from the nation's public schools.

Despite the continuing controversy, and the lack of conclusive evidence to support the claimed advantages of publicly funding single-sex schools, Sen. Hutchison has long fought for such funding. She finally won that funding in 2001, despite the questionable legality of re-segregating schools based on sex.

Poor Rating by the National PTA

The National Parent Teacher Association (PTA) also provides voting guides, and Sen. Hutchison hasn't gotten good grades from them, either. Here are the details of the PTA's most recent rating; and here's a summary of the last two sessions of congress: 

	108th           (2003-04)   7%
	107th Congress  (2001-02)  40%

A forty percent may seem high compared to the seven percent, but remember: any schoolwork with that percentage would be accompanied by a big, red "F". And with an average of 23%, it doesn't look like Sen. Hutchison should pass this year.

Another "F" From National School Boards Association

The National School Boards Association is "a not-for-profit federation of state associations of school boards across the United States. Our mission is to foster excellence and equity in public education through school board leadership." Sen. Hutchison isn't doing well according to their Senate vote ratings, either. 

	109th, 1st session (2005)  50%
	108th           (2003-04)  33%
	107th Congress     (2002)   0%

She may have a hit a high of 50%, better than either the NEA or PTA have given her, but that's still an average of 28%; another "F".

Bottom Line

Sen. Hutchison has had ample opportunity to help build America's public school system during her Senate career. However, the ratings of three major national educational associations are consistent: she's earned failing marks. And it's easy to see why: she has chosen to consistently underfund important educational initiatives, focussing instead on questionable issues such as single-sex education.