Last week, as we observed National School Choice Week, I was reminded of the options that are available to students. From traditional public education to public charter to vocational, parochial, public magnet, and more, our students have opportunities to chart their own paths and tailor their education to best suit their individual needs.
In Iowa, Governor Kim Reynolds is leading the charge on school choice and opening doors to ensure that every child and parent have an option to choose the education and curriculum that works best for their families. The Governor has also launched an initiative to create education savings accounts which support Iowa families and their right to choose the type of education that works best for their needs, regardless of their zip code, socioeconomic status, or background.
The Governor’s policies are truly shaping the conversation and strategies that legislators can use to expand school choice for their communities. I believe her example should serve as a template for the federal government and I urge my colleagues to expand access to school choice like we have in Iowa.
In Congress, I have been a strong advocate for school choice and increasing access to education. I introduced H.R. 5959, the “Creating Hope and Opportunity for Individuals and Communities through Education (CHOICE) Act,” which was the House companion to S. 74, introduced by Senator Tim Scott (R-SC).
The “CHOICE Act” fought to provide families with more options to give their children the best education possible, no matter where they live.
Additionally, I joined several of my colleagues in introducing the “Education Choice for Children Act,” a bill that would expand education freedom and opportunity for millions of students by providing a charitable donation incentive for individuals and businesses to fund scholarship awards for students to cover expenses related to K-12 public and private education, amounting to $10 billion on an annual basis.
Over the years, I’ve also worked to safeguard our schools and educational systems from bureaucratic overreach. Most recently, I was an ardent supporter of H.R. 5, the “Parents Bill of Rights Act,” which passed the House. This strong legislation works to restore parents’ voices in their children’s education and fights against teachers’ unions and their totalitarian grip on our children’s curriculum.
I cannot underscore how important it is for students to be able to have a shot in life and how important it is to have an opportunity to choose your own educational path. Therefore, as we recognize National School Choice Week and affirm that education is not one size fits all, let us also continue to highlight the vital opportunities that school choice provides students to learn the necessary skills to grow and achieve their goals.
