While entering office in the middle of national turmoil, Joseph Robinette Biden Jr., the 46th president of these great United States, honored and delivered the promises he made to educators during the campaign.

We measure candidates and elected officials by their actions that impact our professions and the education we can deliver to the children we serve, and in both cases, I am proud to say that Joe Biden is the “Best Education President.”

President Biden often says: “Don't tell me what you value. Show me your budget, and I'll tell you what you value.” The billions of dollars that he has provided to schools through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), and his proposal to increase funding for the Department of Education by more than 40%, plainly shows us what he values. 

AFSA is proud of President Biden’s strong advocacy for the federal government to provide the most money and resources ever to our nation’s children and the schools that serve them. Not only are the funds designed to help solve issues around COVID-19, but there are assets for forward-thinking ideas, including dollars to build new school infrastructure, capital to overcome the challenges of the digital divide, assistance in training the next generation of school leaders and a strong focus on early childhood education, just to name a few.

Unfortunately, many school districts around the country have not yet used these resources as intended and persist in locking out the voices of school leaders on decisions to use these incredible funding resources. Until the people who are tasked with running schools have a stronger voice at the table in every community, parent and voter frustrations will continue. The president has more than done his part; now it is time for school districts to do theirs.