ACP Platform Principles Summary

These are in no order of importance please check out the full platform plank for full details if more details are listed in following sections.

** The ACP is currently in the process of our members voting on expanding and fine tuning this policy, specifically Cost of College Reform. More details will be made as they come available. For any questions please contact chair@americancentristparty.net**

Education-The best education for our children, no excuses

Education is one of the most important issues America faces. Our nation has grown to be a world economic leader and high quality place to live because of the education of our people. Education fuels our economy- well educated and motivated children are able to get well paid jobs which help with stable families and the nation’s tax base. If our children are not expected and equipped to be the best they can be our nation will suffer for it and it has. America became the world’s economic power and land of opportunity because of America’s commitment to education. In the 20^th century high school diplomas became the standard and that helped lead to economic growth. In the 21^st a college degree or advanced vocational training must be the new standard. Education is not just key to America for economic reasons but civic reasons as well. A well educated and motivated child is likely to become a responsible and active citizen. With the world’s best education all of America’s children will be equipped to make any American Dream they want possible. Thus the ACP supports:

1. All mentally and developmentally capable children will graduate at High School appropriate levels for reading, writing and mathematics. (Ex. a senior in high school to graduate must read, write and do math at a 12th grade level)

2. All Schools will have tutors for students. The ratio of students to tutor will be no more than 30 students to 1 tutor.

3. Encourage and hire former professionals to teach in school. Get them in the classroom to either instruct or assist with instructing. This will give students greater development by successful business professionals.

4. All school facilities will be equally funded regardless of school and or facilities location. Funding will be between local, state and federal funds.
   a. Schools will still be allowed to raise funds through private donations and fundraisers.
   
   

5. Expansion of vocational training
a. testing of all rising 9th graders, this test would determine whether or not vocational training with high school education would benefit student or high school education with higher education focus. This test would count for 50 percent of score on future educational track; grades to that year will count for other 50 percent.

6. Any student who drops out of public school system before graduation will not be eligible to receive any federal support services (ex. welfare) until student graduates or gets GED or equivalent.
a. Any student who drops out of private school system before graduation from high school level will not be eligible to receive any federal support services (ex. welfare) until student graduates or gets GED or equivalent.

b. Creation of Drop Back in programs which allow students to get back in school after dropping out. Allow private education companies under proper school district supervision to offer services of this nature.

7. Nationwide year round schooling.

a. Talk and work with teachers and other educational professionals to find out what works and what doesn’t. Use their knowledge and dedication to make educational policy better.

School Choice & Vouchers:

1. The ACP supports the choice of parents to send their children to any public school within their school district.

2. The ACP supports the choice of parents to use school vouchers to send their children to any private or parochial school of their choice.

3. Voucher amount only applies to how much the federal government spends per child per year. (Ex: if the federal government spent 100 dollars per year per student for one year a family with four children would get a voucher for $400 per year if they wanted to send all four of their children to private or parochial school)

Scientific/Technological Training, Teaching and Innovation:

The ACP supports the signing of the America Competes ACT (08/09/2007) however in addition to supporting this the ACP supports increasing science and technology funding by twenty percent every ten years after the initial America Competes Act expires in 2017-18.

Construction of two hundred Science and Technology Centers across the nation, these centers will allow working Americans to retrain themselves for new scientific and technological careers. Low income workers taking advantage of this program will be able to have tuition and fees deducted from paychecks or welfare checks on a payment plan.

These centers will be a high school alternative for students who are interested in science and technology careers. They will teach basic high school curriculum and also an advanced science and technology and engineering curriculum.