P.When the COVID-19 pandemic forced schools to close in 2021 and shift to virtual learning, adults across the country were given a front row seat to their children’s schooling. That response was certainly something many blue governors and Joe Biden presidential bureaucrats underestimated. : Parents were furious.
A Zoom class of students gave us a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the politicized curriculum and a closer look at some of the toxic ideologies being taught to our children, such as critical race theory and gender ideology. rice field. This, combined with low standards of excellence in traditional educational subjects such as math, science and reading, has produced an inspired new generation of parents who are ready to take on the monopoly of education. .
they are just getting started.
First came the school board takeover. Parents across the country began actively participating in local school board meetings, expressing concerns and frustrations with those who were supposed to represent the best interests of their students. And when elected school board members didn’t take their concerns seriously, parents teamed up to kick them out of office. Fed up with a board of education that had nothing to do with it, he dismissed three members of the board.
However, this custody movement did not come without backlash. Teachers’ unions, politicians, and even law enforcement officials have tried to block parents’ efforts to restore their children’s education. The Justice Department, in partnership with union advocates, called the concerned parents “domestic terrorists.”
That’s why parents need to start thinking long term. Taking back the school board is important, but it’s only the first step to defeating the institution’s heavyweights. To dismantle the education cartel permanently, we need to allow families to fully opt out of the current system. Parents must choose schools, and state and federal legislators must work with parents to force power back on families.
The first policy legislators should consider is the creation and expansion of Education Savings Accounts (ESAs). ESA provides families of all income levels and demographic backgrounds with publicly funded education accounts that can be used for anything related to education, whether it be homeschooling materials or private school tuition. increase. This policy allows students to have access to a variety of educational options and allows parents to choose public, charter or private options for their children without worrying about whether their children can afford it. You will be able to choose which one suits you best.
State legislators should look to Arizona, which is now the gold standard for school choice policy. In July, the Arizona State Legislature created the largest ESA program for her K-12 students in the country. Every student is eligible to receive her 90% of the state portion of the Arizona Per Pupil Fund.So the typical award in Arizona is
$6,600 per student
Currently, more than 10,000 students in Arizona benefit from this policy.
Purple states like Wisconsin and blue cities like Washington DC have had some success at the forefront of school selection.in fact the recent
poll
We found that 70% of Democrats and 80% of independent voters support school choice initiatives.
But education reform should not stop at the state level. Congressmen also have the ability to enforce school choices.First, Congress could repeal burdensome federal regulations and create funding for education.
portable
Federal money should go to students instead of letting the school system fail.
Second, Congress
Academic Partnership Leads Us to Success or A-PLUS Proposal
This will allow states to opt out of federal programs. This means that the state can control the cost of education and use it for programs and policies that actually help students. States should have more financial autonomy over the education costs they receive from the federal government so that they can be used to implement policies and programs like ESA.
Third, lawmakers must strengthen
DC Opportunity Scholarship
This federally funded school voucher program helps families earning below 185% of the federal poverty line access education options through scholarships worth up to $13,287.
And finally, both state and federal legislators can establish or expand tax credits for contributions to organizations that award charitable scholarships. Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Rep. Jim Banks (R-IN) recently
Choice of Child Education Law
To do just that at the federal level.Similarly, this year Georgia
expanded
Existing Scholarship Tax Credit Program.
Unless we fight back against educational monopolies, the future of our public education system will be grim.despite spending
2 trillion dollars
Over the past 55 years, K-12 education has been lagging behind in proficiency, with significant declines in some areas. Exceptions to this trend, however, are states that accept school choice, such as Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Tennessee.
improvement
in subjects like mathematics.
For parents, this is our moment. Fighting back against mass education is more important and possible than ever before. It’s time to advocate for these policies and encourage state and federal legislators to do the same.
Too much is at stake for parents, states, or congressmen to fail education reform and school choice.
Jessica Anderson is executive director of Heritage Action for America.
.