This November, many CHS Seniors, as well as many students’ parents, will head to the polls to cast their ballot for the next president of the United States. However, for the vast majority of students, the election is something talked about at the dinner table, and then shoved to the back of one’s mind. Of course, this is a generalization, but it still begs the question: how will the policies of the next president - Obama or McCain – affect teenagers’ lives? And why should we care?

Most teenagers spend about 1500 hours at school each year, notwithstanding college. Many classes are built around preparing students for the HSAs and other standardized tests. With students’ time, money, and education on the line, it’s important to understand where each candidate stands on education. Wherever one might be on the political spectrum, education is still an important issue because it is the only way that people can be prepared for the world and its problems. So read on- the next president could change your day at school indefinitely.

In 2002, the government enacted the No Child Left Behind Act- the law behind tests like Maryland’s HSAs. The Act was designed to measure teachers’ teaching ability and the quality of schools by measuring their success on such standardized tests. However, in the six years since it started, NCLB has faced a number of problems. Many critics have accused it of watering down school to being all about scoring high on these tests, instead of focusing on individual students’ academic strengths and weaknesses.

Both presidential candidates agree that No Child Left Behind needs a major revamp. Where they differ, however, is how they plan to fix it. Democratic nominee Barack Obama has pledged to improve the tests and offer more support to schools that need help, instead of punishing them. He has also supported the idea of creating adapted tests for students who may not be able to pass standardized tests normally, such as non-English speakers or students with learning disabilities.

Republican nominee John McCain also plans to change the tests. He has proposed a plan to develop sophisticated evaluations to track student problem-solving skills in a variety of subjects so that test scores soar even higher. While he is considering changing the testing requirements for some students, in the past he has stood by the advantage of keeping standardized tests the same, to keep standards high for schools.

While both candidates share similar views on No Child Left Behind and the need for changes, they stand opposed on higher education.

Obama has proposed a radical new plan - the American Opportunity Tax Credit - to create a $4,000 tax credit to cover the college tuition of any Americans who have completed 100 hours of community service. The tax credit will also cover two-thirds the cost of tuition at an average public college such as Towson or Salisbury, and make community college free for eligible applicants.

McCain’s approach to higher education is designed to make things easier for families by consolidating programs and simplifying tax programs for parents. He proposes simplifying complicated eligibility requirements for parents so that it is easier to send their children to college. He also hopes to work with schools to make financial programs easier to understand so that students can know eligible they are for financial aid.

The 2008 election will have a tremendous influence on everyone, even ordinary students at CHS. Tests like the HSAs could be changed or redone completely, and college-bound seniors may be able to get federal or outside aid to attend the school of their dreams.