1) Birth–5: Universal, high-quality preschool

• Free, quality Pre-K (mixed-delivery: public, community-based, Head Start partners) so parents can work and kids start kindergarten ready.
  
  

• Pay educators like professionals (wage floor + benefits) to stabilize the early-learning workforce.
  
  

• Measure what matters: kindergarten readiness, chronic absenteeism reductions, and special-education referral trends (without “teaching to the test”).
  
  

2) K–12: Strong neighborhood schools, career pathways, and respect for educators

• Fully funded public schools with smaller class sizes where needed, modern materials, and reliable student supports (counseling, special education, speech/OT/PT).
  
  

• Teacher pipeline & retention: grow-your-own programs, rural housing support partnerships, and competitive pay to stop the talent drain.
  
  

• Career & Technical Education (CTE) for real jobs: paid internships/apprenticeships, dual credit, and partnerships with community colleges and local employers.
  
  

• Facility modernization focused on learning (HVAC, safety, broadband, labs/shops), not prestige projects.
  
  

3) Community college: Free, practical, local

• Free community college for tuition and fees, with wraparound supports (childcare, transportation, advising) to boost completion.
  
  

• Stackable credentials that turn into good-paying work or transfer pathways.
  
  

4) Universities: Affordable, accountable, and student-centered

• Tuition-free options for families below a reasonable income threshold (designed so it actually helps working/middle-class families).
  
  

• Endowment accountability: if an institution’s endowment exceeds a defined threshold, it must deliver affordability (more free tuition, more need-based aid) rather than stockpiling wealth.
  
  

• Cut the administrative bloat driving tuition hikes: transparent reporting, limits on non-instructional growth, and “ROI audits” for spending.
  
  

• Stop the luxury “college experience” arms race (overbuilt lounges/facilities) when it doesn’t improve learning outcomes.
  
  

5) Student loans: Fix what’s broken

• Cap and fix interest below 5% with simple repayment that matches real wages and today’s cost of living.
  
  

• End negative amortization (no more “I paid for years and owe more than I borrowed”).
  
  

Targeted write-downs/forgiveness where borrowers were steered into predatory outcomes—paired with guardrails so schools can’t keep offloading risk onto students.

Bentz: voted to overturn Biden-era student debt relief.

Bentz/House GOP direction: repeated pushes to shrink federal education support: OR-CD2 kids and families shouldn’t be collateral damage.