be left to state and local governments. David Perdue (R), a Senate candidate in Georgia who chairs the National Commission on Adult Literacy and Workforce Development, notes with pride that his parents and wife are teachers. His issue statement on education is titled Local Control of Education. Other than emphasizing the need to "dismantle unnecessary federal bureaucracy" and channel funding to classrooms, he makes no mention of how to address inequalities in education and does not discuss income inequality.



In stark contrast, his opponent Michelle Nunn (D) addresses some aspects of educational equity head-on. Indeed, Nunn is one of the few candidates in these close races to emphasize specific issues of low-income families on her website, where she acknowledges that low-income families are finding it harder to get intothe middle class. She supports the Common Core State Standards while citing the need for "local flexibility." She also emphasizes the need for all levels of government to work together to provide preschool education, and promotes government involvement and private partnerships for science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education and technical education as specific pathways to economic growth.



Democrat Mark Udall, the incumbent Senator in Colorado discusses education programs that are often touted as benefiting low-income families, but he does not explicitly mention poor children. Udall's official Senate webpage cites the need for high-quality early childhood education, improved teacher pay and access to professional development, STEM education, and college affordability, among other issues. On his campaign website, the only mention of education in the issues section concerns college affordability;