Education
Preparing students for life with critical thinking, civic understanding, and opportunity.
Education should be a launchpad, not a sorting hat. The Halcyon Party believes in preparing students not just for tests, but for life — with an emphasis on critical thinking, civic engagement, and upward mobility. We reject the culture war framing of education and instead ask: what actually works?
K–12 Education: Students First
The goal isn’t left-wing or right-wing schools — it’s better schools.
We support:
Rigorous, evidence-based curricula in reading, math, science, and civics — not ideological indoctrination from either side.
Project-based learning and real-world skills development, including financial literacy, digital fluency, and media literacy.
Public school innovation grants, rewarding schools that improve learning outcomes through experimentation, not standardization.
School Choice That Doesn’t Gut Public Schools
Parents deserve options. Public schools deserve investment.
We propose:
Charter schools with strict accountability, financial transparency, and equitable admissions.
Magnet programs and open enrollment options within and across districts.
Guardrails on voucher programs to prevent discrimination, cherry-picking, or draining public school resources.
Invest in Teachers Like They’re the Backbone of Democracy (Because They Are)
You can’t attract top talent to a profession that’s underpaid and over-politicized.
We advocate:
Competitive teacher salaries, benchmarked to other professions requiring similar education.
Mentorship and professional development programs, with teacher-led innovation labs.
Streamlined but rigorous teacher certification, especially for mid-career professionals entering education.
Student Mental Health & Safety
A child who doesn’t feel safe can’t learn.
We support:
On-campus mental health staff in every school — not just overburdened guidance counselors.
Restorative justice programs that reduce suspensions and improve school climate.
Evidence-based school safety measures, focused on prevention and trust-building — not turning campuses into lockdown zones.
Reduce Teaching to the Test
Let’s measure what matters.
We propose:
Slimming down standardized testing, focusing on diagnostic and growth-oriented assessments.
Replacing high-stakes testing with portfolio-based evaluations that reflect a student’s full capabilities.
Performance accountability systems that weigh student progress and classroom conditions — not just raw scores.
Close the Digital Divide
In the 21st century, internet access is homework access.
We advocate:
Universal broadband for every student, rural or urban.
Device grants for low-income families, updated every 3–5 years.
Digital literacy as a core part of K–12 curriculum, not just an elective.
Higher Education Access & Affordability
A degree shouldn’t require a lifetime of debt.
We support:
Tuition-free community college, with seamless transfer pathways to four-year schools.
Expanded Pell Grants and income-based repayment systems for federal student loans.
Incentivizing trade schools and apprenticeships, with equal status and funding as academic routes.
Curriculum Integrity & Transparency
Teach the facts. Teach the complexity. Teach students to think.
We propose:
Nonpartisan curriculum review panels, including educators, historians, and local community voices.
Civics education that teaches how government works, not just how people feel about it.
Parent access to curriculum plans and materials — with protections against politicized censorship.
Real-World Readiness
Every graduate should leave with more than a transcript.
We support:
Mandatory life skills curriculum: budgeting, job interviews, contracts, tenant rights, digital privacy.
Career exploration in high school, with internship and mentorship pipelines.
Civic service or work-experience options linked to graduation, community improvement, or tuition support.