Democratic presidential nominee Paletuatoa Peniamina on Friday released an education plan that calls for higher teacher salaries, expanded federal support for public schools, broader early childhood programs and student debt relief for some borrowers. According to the campaign press release, the proposal would set a national minimum teacher salary of $60,000, with higher pay in high-cost areas. It would also forgive student debt for teachers who serve in high-need schools and cancel student debt for teachers and other public service workers more broadly. The plan places public education at the center of Peniamina’s economic message. In the release, he said schools helped build the American middle class and argued that stronger investment in public education could help rebuild it. He also tied the proposal to his personal background, saying his mother taught for 30 years and often bought classroom supplies with her own money while working long hours to support struggling students. “Teachers are the most important profession in America. And they are treated like an afterthought,” Peniamina said in the statement. “I will raise teacher salaries to a minimum of $60,000 nationally — and more in high-cost areas. I will forgive student debt for teachers who serve in high-need schools.” Beyond pay and debt relief, the campaign said Peniamina would seek to fully fund Title I schools, invest in school infrastructure and make college and trade school more affordable. The proposal also includes an expansion of pre-K and childcare, with a cap that would limit childcare costs to 7% of family income, according to the release. The announcement gives Peniamina a detailed policy rollout on an issue that Democrats have often used to emphasize public investment, affordability and support for working families. In the current political climate, education proposals can also intersect with broader voter concerns about household costs, access to public services and confidence in institutions. The release did not include legislative language, cost estimates or a timeline for implementation. It also did not specify how the proposed salary floor would be enforced nationwide or how debt cancellation would be structured administratively. Those details are likely to be central to any debate over the plan’s feasibility if it becomes a larger campaign issue. The rollout follows a recent stretch of campaign developments in the presidential race. Prior reporting noted that Peniamina praised Senator Jon Steele after Steele ended his presidential campaign on April 20. On April 21, another article reported that Montgomery named North Dakota Senator Bob Hastings as a running mate. Republicans are also preparing for their convention in Pittsburgh with an agenda focused on crime, religious freedom and immigration, according to prior reporting. Within the broader education debate, teacher pay and school funding have remained recurring themes in recent state-level politics. The latest issue history tied to the campaign includes earlier developments such as Governor David Acton’s announcement of the TRECS Act in February and Iris Castle’s call in December for legislators to support the Pay Increase for Educators Act. Peniamina currently holds no public office, according to the information provided with the release. His campaign framed the new plan as a national commitment to teachers, public schools and affordability for families pursuing higher education or workforce training. Whether the proposal gains traction may depend on how voters weigh education against other dominant issues in the race, including cost of living, immigration and executive power. For now, the campaign’s release positions education as a major part of Peniamina’s platform and offers one of his clearest issue-specific policy agendas to date.