Every American deserves quality public schools, and an educated public benefits us all. Erik is a proud product of our public education system. The education that he received in the Bartlesville Public School system was second to none. Every student in our district deserves to have access to that same, high-quality learning. Education is a human right, and Erik will fight every day to protect it.

Public education is a service that is provided to a population, and as such, it should not be run in a for-profit manner. Public funds poured into for-profit schools increase the wealth of investors with no accountability to the public for actual outcomes. Erik is completely against vouchers in any form. Yes, we MUST address the issues plaguing our public education system, but the solution is not to take even MORE money away from cash-strapped public schools and divert it into wealthy private institutions. It is cruel, immoral, and un-democratic.

Student debt and college affordability is becoming an economic crisis that we must solve now. In a country that can find ways to bail out industry after industry, we can and WILL ease the suffering of millions of people by canceling student debt and making public education free to all---Pre-K through university. In addition, we must expand early childhood education because ALL children deserve a chance to learn.

These aren't radical ideas. This is how dignified democracies educate their populations, and it is time we joined the party.