test. There must be room for invigorating teaching and learning in the classroom.” [Hillary Clinton Questionnaire, American Federation of Teachers, 7/12/15] Secretary Clinton: “I Think Any Discussion Of Improving Our Public Schools Must Include Universal Access To Pre-Kindergarten.” “I believe we need to improve access to quality child care and early learning opportunities for all children. Every child, regardless of parental income, deserves access to high-quality pre-K. I think any discussion of improving our public schools must include universal access to pre-kindergarten. I believe we can start to close the achievement gap by investing in programs that increase children's school readiness and academic preparation while making it easier for parents to balance their responsibilities at work with their responsibilities to their children. We know children's brains develop more rapidly at this time in their lives than at any other and that high quality interventions make a real difference in the outcomes of children from low-income families. In the months ahead, I look forward to laying out a significant agenda to improve early learning in our country.” [Hillary Clinton Questionnaire, American Federation of Teachers, 7/12/15] Secretary Clinton: “As A Leader At The Clinton Foundation, I Led A National Initiative Called ‘Too Small To Fail’ Aimed At Supporting Parents To Improve Vocabulary And Brain Development In The Early Years To Close The ‘Word Gap’ And Better Prepare Children For School.” “I have been highlighting the importance of early childhood education for more than forty years. As First Lady of Arkansas, I helped bring the Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters Program (HIPPY) to Arkansas. As First Lady, I hosted the first White House conference on early learning and the brain, championed the program ‘Prescription for Reading,’ in which pediatricians provided free books for new mothers to read to their infants as their brains were rapidly developing, and supported the Administration's work to create Early Head Start, which reaches children from birth to age three throughout country. As Senator, I co- sponsored the Education Begins at Home Act, which expands the Parents as Teachers program and other quality programs of early childhood home visitation. As a leader at the Clinton Foundation, I led a national initiative called ‘Too Small to Fail’ aimed at supporting parents to improve vocabulary and brain development in the early years to close the ‘word gap’ and better prepare children for school. As President, I will continue my lifelong work to expand early childhood and parent education programs.” [Hillary Clinton Questionnaire, American Federation of Teachers, 7/12/15] Secretary Clinton: “I Strongly Oppose Voucher Schemes Because They Divert Precious Resources Away From Financially Strapped Public Schools To Private Schools That Are Not Subject To The Same Accountability Standards Or Teacher Quality Standards.” [Hillary Clinton Questionnaire, American Federation of Teachers, 7/12/15] Secretary Clinton: “It Would Be Harmful To Our Democracy If We Dismantled Our Public School System Through Vouchers, And There Is No Evidence That Doing So Would Improve Outcomes For Children.” [Hillary Clinton Questionnaire, American Federation of Teachers, 7/12/15] Secretary Clinton: “Charters Should Be Held To The Same Standards, And To The Same Level Of Accountability And Transparency To Which Traditional Public Schools Are Held.” “Charters should be held to the same standards, and to the same level of accountability and transparency to which traditional public schools are held. This includes the requirements of civil rights laws. They can innovate and help improve educational practices. But I also believe that we must go back to the original purpose of charter schools.” Secretary Clinton: “Where Charters Are Succeeding, We Should Be Doing More To Ensure That Their Innovations Can Be Widely Disseminated Throughout Our Traditional Public School System. Where They Are Failing, They Should Be Closed.” [Hillary Clinton Questionnaire, American Federation of Teachers, 7/12/15] Secretary Clinton: “We Have To Do More To Link Student Loan Repayments To Income And To Help People Refinance Their Loans.” “First, too many young people are struggling under the burden of student debt and too many families are struggling to pay the rising cost of college. Second, too many students are starting but never completing college, which means they leave with debt but no degree. I will