FARGO, N.D. – U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today joined educators from across North Dakota for a roundtable discussion about the challenges our schools face and how we can work together to make sure North Dakota students receive a top-notch and comprehensive education.

With experienced educators, Heitkamp heard about the challenges North Dakota’s rural schools face and how she can work in the Senate to address their concerns during upcoming discussions and negotiations for the reauthorization of the No Child Left Behind law. They discussed No Child Left Behind’s “one-size-fits-all” approach – which has been hindering rural schools and causing unforeseen challenges – and the educators laid out their priorities and solutions to better meet the needs of North Dakota’s education system. These issues include making sure there is a plan to address Native American educational issues, expanding access to early childhood education, and addressing college affordability. 

“Our most important and valuable resources are our children. And it’s up to us to make sure that they have access to the quality education that will put them on a path to succeed,” said Heitkamp. “North Dakota has dedicated teachers, parents and communities that work hard to provide opportunities to our next generation of leaders, but they can’t do it alone. Today’s discussion brought key players to the table to discuss what their priorities are and what I can do in the Senate to make sure they have the support and resources they need. As Congress begins to discuss education reform, I’ll be fighting to make sure any bill the Senate passes takes the unique needs of North Dakota students into consideration.”

As a strong advocate for Native children, Heitkamp has already been working to address many of the challenges Native American students face. This week, she re-introduced her bill that would create a Commission on Native Children to do a comprehensive study of the challenges Native youth face and provide recommendations – which includes an in-depth look at education issues.  Heitkamp has also been calling attention to the dire need for resources for students in Indian Country both during a meeting with U.S. Chief Technology Officer Megan Smith last week and she spoke about the technology and education challenges in Indian Country with President Obama when he visited Standing Rock in June. Just four months after she spoke with the President, Cannon Ball Elementary was chosen by Apple – a private-sector White House ConnectED partner – to receive Apple educational technology in every classroom.

Since joining the Senate, Heitkamp has been working to shine a light on the importance of early childhood education and college affordability. Head Start programs have felt the burden of budget cuts in recent years and Heitkamp has fought for more funding and resources so children can get the education they deserve at a young age. In addition, Heitkamp has been an advocate for the thousands of North Dakota students who are saddled with student loans and pushed for a proposal that would allow the eligible 63,000 North Dakota student loan borrowers to refinance to lower interest rates. In June, she held a Facebook Q&A to answer some of North Dakota students’ questions about college affordability. Heitkamp understands that the issue of mounting student loan debt not only affects students and graduates, but that it is a drain on the entire economy.

###