Jeff's Positions on Key Issues

Please read the information below to learn about Jeff Thielman’s positions on important issues that will be addressed by your next State Representative:

(use the links to the left to see different issues)

Education

Public education is the bedrock of our democracy. We have good public schools in Arlington and West Medford, great teachers, and dedicated administrators. Yet, we do not have the funding we need and deserve from the state.

Arlington and Medford saw their state funding – the so-called Chapter 70 money – cut by 20% in 2003. Neither district has yet to return to 2003 state funding levels, and both communities have more students today than they had five years ago.

Medford loses $2.8 million per year in Chapter 70 money because 300 of the city’s students attend charter schools. This cut in aid represents about 35 teaching positions, impacting class sizes and course offerings.

My top priority as your State Representative will be to procure more generous aid for Arlington and West Medford, and I will work to change the charter school funding formula so that Medford in particular feels less of impact than it does today.

As a State Representative, I will work for:

• Expanded state support for early education programs for three and fouryear old children.
• Funding for full-day kindergarten.
• Increased state funding for special education programs.
• More assistance to cities and towns for science education.
• An increase in funding for our state’s universities, which have been woefully under-funded for far too long.
• Allow high school students who have lived in the state for more than three years and are in the process of securing citizenship to apply for in-state tuition at our public colleges and universities.
• The overall goal of ensuring that our K-12 school districts and college and university system is appropriately preparing all of our residents for the 21 st century.

Here's a video with more information from Jeff about education:

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