My wife Jill has always said it best: Any country that out-educates us will out-compete us.

Jill has been a teacher for over 30 years. She’s taught me that being a teacher is not just a career, it’s a calling. But for too long, we have not supported teachers in the way they deserve to be supported.

9 in 10 teachers spend their own money on school supplies. Many teachers have to take on second jobs just to pay their bills.

We need to fix this. Which is why I just announced my plan to invest in public education, in our teachers, and in our students.

This afternoon, I laid out a plan to offer universal pre-K and triple Title I funding for lower-income communities. With this investment, all schools -- no matter their zip code -- can finally afford to pay teachers competitively and offer a wide range of academic programs to engage their students.

And that’s just the beginning. We will put more mental and behavioral health professionals in public schools, to meet our childrens’ needs and allow teachers to focus on teaching. We can fulfill our commitment to students with disabilities, by putting an end to the federal government under-funding special education.

Universal pre-K for 3 and 4 year olds is attainable. Doubling career and technical training for middle and high school students is attainable -- we just need to invest in educating and competing.

That is exactly what my campaign's plan for 0-12 education would do.

I’m going to take this plan, these core ideas, with me to the debate next month and to rallies all across the country. I want to make sure people hear this plan and know that it’s not only possible -- it’s necessary.

If you haven’t chipped in to my campaign yet, I’d love to have you by my side and on my list of grassroots supporters as we put education policy front and center. Will you make a donation to my campaign today?

https://go.joebiden.com/Donate

Thank you,

Joe