My San Antonio – Will Hurd
“The phrase “national security” brings to mind the goals of keeping our homeland safe from intruders, maintaining a strong military, and encouraging sound foreign policy. These aspects are essential; however, ensuring a top-notch education for our students should also be included in that list. Without a properly educated country, we jeopardize our standing in the world, as well as our economic future and physical safety. As a former undercover CIA officer and current member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, ensuring we protect Americans for generations to come is a top priority. National security of this caliber requires a vigorous economy and highly knowledgeable leaders with a well-formed view on the role of the United States in the world. None of this is possible without a well-educated workforce. As a country, we are not where we should be when it comes to ensuring access to high-quality education and increasing graduation rates. According to the Department of Education, only 4 out of 5 students in the United States graduated from high school in 2014, and we rank 27th in math and 26th in science out of 34 industrialized countries surveyed. In San Antonio, less than 35 percent of adults have college degrees and only about half of high school graduates enroll in a two- or four-year college program.”(more)