Despite making &#8220;tremendous progress&#8221; toward implementing a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/will-school-choice-come-to-tennessee-lawmakers-have-two-weeks-to-finalize-education-freedom-act" target="_blank" rel="noopener">school choice program</a> in Tennessee, Republicans ultimately failed to come to an agreement during negotiations on two different versions of school choice measures that had been put forward in the state&#8217;s House and Senate.
Tennessee Republican Governor Bill Lee, who had pushed for the state&#8217;s legislature to pass school choice legislation, <a href="https://twitter.com/GovBillLee/status/1782409052443508980" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> on Monday that families &#8220;will have to wait yet another year for the freedom to choose the right education for their child.&#8221; The state&#8217;s 2024 legislative session ends this week, and a new General Assembly will be sworn in after the elections this fall.
&#8220;I am extremely disappointed for the families who will have to wait yet another year for the freedom to choose the right education for their child, especially when there is broad agreement that now is the time to bring universal school choice to Tennessee,&#8221; Lee said. &#8220;While we made tremendous progress, unfortunately it has become clear that there is not a pathway for the bill during this legislative session.&#8221;
Lee&#8217;s plan, known as the “Education Freedom Scholarship Act,” looked to make scholarships worth $7,000 available for 20,000 students in the next school year. For the first year of the scholarships, those with low incomes would have access to half of the scholarships while the other half would be handed out on a first come, first serve basis. The plan would push for all students in the 2025-2026 school year to have scholarships they could use at private schools and charter schools and they would also be made available for homeschool families.
Lee thanked the leaders in both chambers of the state legislature &#8220;for their commitment to pursuing education freedom next year.&#8221;
The bills being considered by the state Senate and House contained major differences. The bill sponsored in the Senate by Republican Majority Leader Jack Johnson mirrored Lee&#8217;s proposal and added a requirement that scholarship recipients take an annual norm-referenced test approved by the state board of education. Meanwhile, the state House version of the bill — sponsored by Republican House Majority Leader William Lamberth — was more strict in how the scholarships could be applied as they were designated only for use at private schools with limited use for public schools. The House version also did not include scholarships that could be used by homeschool families.
Lamberth cited concerns about fiscal responsibility for why the House bill included those major differences.
“We would expand as possible as we go forward. Here in Tennessee, we are always very fiscally conservative. We balance our budget every year,” Lamberth <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/will-school-choice-come-to-tennessee-lawmakers-have-two-weeks-to-finalize-education-freedom-act" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told The Daily Wire</a> earlier this month. “We are just very careful not to have a program that has no fiscal constraints on it. So the intention would be to expand this program down the road, but we’re going to start out with 20,000 students.”
<a href="https://onelink.to/dwapp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" aria-describedby="sk-tooltip-9096" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://onelink.to/dwapp&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1700760801843000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2PQrVSrJfhxNb4LcARqniG">CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP</a>
The school choice program was opposed by Democrats and teachers unions, but also by some conservative activists who say that school choice legislation could be fiscally irresponsible, introduce backdoor ways for the government to regulate Christian schools and homeschoolers, and fund education for illegal immigrants, The Daily Wire previously reported.
The governor, however, says his proposed program will empower parents and give all students better opportunities &#8220;to succeed.&#8221;
&#8220;It’s very simple — this is about every Tennessee student having the opportunity to succeed, regardless of their zip code or income level, and without question, empowering parents is the best way to make sure that happens,&#8221; Lee said.
Leif Le Mahieu contributed to this report.

Bill Lee

‘Extremely Disappointed’: Tennessee School Choice Bill Won’t Pass This Year, Governor Says

Tennessee School Choice Bill Dead For The Year, Governor Says

Republicans

School Choice

Tennessee

Tennessee&#8217;s Republican Governor Bill Lee is determined to make his state the latest to overhaul its education system to embrace school choice, but with a deadline to get it done just a few weeks away, several hurdles remain. 
With two weeks remaining before the legislative session of the Tennessee General Assembly comes to a close, lawmakers in the state House and Senate have put forward two very different versions of Lee&#8217;s proposed school choice measure, known as the &#8220;Education Freedom Scholarship Act.&#8221; Despite the differences, both legislative leaders and Lee tell The Daily Wire they are confident they will get a school choice measure passed, though precisely what it will look like won&#8217;t be known until the end of the session on April 25.
Lee’s school choice <a href="https://www.tn.gov/governor/news/2023/11/28/gov--lee--legislative-leadership-call-for-statewide-school-choice--unveil-education-freedom-scholarship-act.html">plan</a> calls for scholarships worth $7,000 to be made available to 20,000 students in the 2024-2025 school year. Of the available scholarships, half would be reserved for poor people, with the remaining half allocated on a first come, first serve basis. The goal for the next school year would be for universal eligibility for all students in the state to use at private schools, charter schools, or for homeschool families. 
&#8220;A parent ought to decide where their kid goes to school and what they learn, and not the government,” Lee told The Daily Wire in an interview. “That’s what choice is really about: the government not deciding everything about a kid&#8217;s education in a state, but the parents deciding that.”
The House and Senate versions of the Education Freedom Scholarship Act have been working their way through committees over the last several weeks. Both versions set aside around $144 million for the 20,000 scholarships and do not automatically expand the amount of scholarships, meaning the cap would need to be lifted by future General Assemblies. They both also reserve 10,000 for lower-income students and 10,000 more broadly open for anyone. However, who and where the scholarships can be eligible depends on which version gets passed.
The Senate <a href="https://www.capitol.tn.gov/Bills/113/Amend/SA0630.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">version</a>, sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson, a Republican, closely mirrors Lee’s proposal. It would make the scholarships available for the 2024-2025 school year for use at private schools and for homeschool families, as well as allow students to choose their public schools. Additionally, the Senate version would require scholarship recipients to take an annual norm-referenced test approved by the state board of education. 
The House version, sponsored by House Majority Leader William Lamberth, also a Republican, allows for the scholarships to be given out to Tennessee students for use at private schools. However, the scholarships have more limited eligibility, as it designates them only for use at private schools. Unlike the Senate version, they could not be used by homeschool families, and there is still limited choice for public schools. 
The school choice proposals have received the usual criticism from teachers unions, but have also received critiques from some conservative activists who say that school choice legislation could be fiscally irresponsible, introduce backdoor ways for the government to regulate Christian schools and homeschoolers, and fund education for illegal immigrants.
Lee said he understood those concerns about government regulation and said that there would be protections for homeschool families and private schools that participate in the program. Lee told The Daily Wire that he believed that &#8220;less government is better government” and that the goal of his legislation would be to allow parents to allocate their tax dollars toward the kind of education they want for their kids.  
The exact details about what safeguards might be in place remain somewhat up in the air as lawmakers negotiate the specifics of the education scholarship program. Parents and schools could also decline to participate in the program. 
When asked about concerns about the scholarship program introducing cumbersome regulations on private schools or homeschools, Johnson, the Senate leader, said the bill was an attempt to give parents more opportunity to choose how their children should be educated, and not an attempt to “take over” private schools. 
He said he would “fight tooth and nail any attempts” to introduce more regulations for private schools and homeschool families. 
Lamberth said the concerns about fiscal responsibility are why the House formulated the program the way it did.
&#8220;We would expand as possible as we go forward. Here in Tennessee, we are always very fiscally conservative. We balance our budget every year,” Lamberth told The Daily Wire. “We are just very careful not to have a program that has no fiscal constraints on it. So the intention would be to expand this program down the road, but we’re going to start out with 20,000 students.” 
On the issue of the eligibility of illegal immigrants for the scholarships, the House reserves the scholarships for citizens while the Senate version stays away from that issue.
Johnson said he did not want to introduce anything in the Senate version that would place the measure in danger of getting tied up in court. In 1982, the Supreme Court ruled that states have to provide education to all children in the state regardless of whether they are in the United States legally or not. 
While there are still major differences still being debated, Lee said he was ”very hopeful and very confident” that a bill would make it to his desk. Johnson said he is “cautiously optimistic,” but acknowledged that the Senate and House versions of the legislation “do look a lot different.”
“Anything we can do to empower parents to make decisions that they believe are best for their child, we should do that, and that’s what this legislation does,” Johnson said. “For far too many families, because of their financial circumstances, they don’t have the resources or means to pick a different option for their kid, and so they are forced to go to the public school that they’re zoned for.” 
Lamberth said he felt good about negotiations, and said working out differences is part of the legislative process. 
Lee’s appeal for school choices comes weeks after Alabama <a href="https://spn.org/articles/alabama-passes-universal-school-choice/">enacted </a>universal school choice and the Georgia legislature passed a $6,500 education savings account program backed by Governor Brian Kemp (R). In nearby Louisiana, a school choice measure is making its way through the legislature with support from even some Democrats.
Lee has argued that his school choice push is part of the growing movement across America of parents demanding more accountability from public schools over the quality of the education and values being promoted by public school teachers.
“This is an awakening of parents across America to the urgency and the need to be more engaged in the options for their children’s education, and to know what their kids are learning, and to be more engaged to where they&#8217;re learning it,” Lee said
Tennessee has already rolled out education scholarship programs in Nashville, Chattanooga, and Memphis through school choice pilot programs in previous years. Lee&#8217;s proposal would expand options for the whole state. 
Corey DeAngelis, an advocate for school choice and senior fellow at the Federation for American Children, told The Daily Wire that he would consider any bill expanding school choice that makes it across the finish line a win, but that a state like Tennessee should be able to get a broad measure passed. 
&#8220;Any school choice bill that expands opportunities for families would be a step in the right direction so either chamber&#8217;s version would be a win, but at the same time you have supermajorities in each chamber in Tennessee and you should be able to get full-throated school choice like they have in Arizona,” he told The Daily Wire.  
DeAngelis said Arizona’s school choice measure, passed by Republican Governor Doug Ducey, should be the north star for conservative states. It included explicit protections for private schools from government overreach, and expanded options for all parents with no income restrictions or caps on available scholarships. He said ideal legislation allows for all families, regardless of income or zip code, to take their children to any form of school — public, private, or home.
What Tennessee&#8217;s final version will look like and how expansive it will be is still being decided, but the pressure is on to satisfy both critics and proponents of the bill as lawmakers push to make Tennessee the latest Red state to enact broader school choice.

Tennessee Educators Gather In Nashville To Protest Proposed School Voucher Legislation

Will School Choice Win Out In Tennessee? Lawmakers Have Two Weeks To Finalize ‘Education Freedom’ Act

Education

A speech from a Democrat representative in favor of a school choice bill went viral as the Louisiana House voted overwhelmingly on Monday to pass the measure, which now goes on to the state Senate.
Rep. Jason Hughes, a Democrat representative from New Orleans since 2019, gave a passionate speech from the House floor in support of proposed legislation that would create an education scholarship program for parents to choose alternative options to the default public school system. The bill <a href="https://legiscan.com/LA/rollcall/HB745/id/1421857" target="_blank" rel="noopener">passed</a> the House 72-32 with 65 Republicans and seven Democrats backing the bill. 
“As I watch children in poverty, trapped in failing schools, who can hardly read, I&#8217;d be damned if I will continue to defend the status quo,” Hughes said in his speech, which was viewed over half a million times on X. “Too many of our children are dropping out, and then we wonder why we have to have a crime session.” 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
APPLAUSE FROM THE CHAMBER for Jason Hughes: 
&quot;I know the political ramifications for me for voting for this bill. 
But I don&#39;t need this $16,800 a year job bad enough to watch our children continue to live in poverty, trapped in failing schools, and not try to do something.… <a href="https://t.co/rgHSbo538A">pic.twitter.com/rgHSbo538A</a>
&mdash; Corey A. DeAngelis, school choice evangelist (@DeAngelisCorey) <a href="https://twitter.com/DeAngelisCorey/status/1777481614873800788?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 8, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;I know the political ramifications for me for voting for this bill,” Hughes added. “But I don&#8217;t need this $16,800 a year job bad enough to watch our children continue to live in poverty, and trapped in failing schools, and not try to do something.”
“And in the event I&#8217;m not re-elected, this is what I know: my steps are ordered. This is what I know: my heart is pure. I came here to do tough things. I came here to make tough decisions. And I came here to put children first,” he said. 
Last week, Hughes <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/media/louisiana-democrat-bucks-party-voting-school-choice-bill-poor-kids-trapped-failing-schools" target="_blank" rel="noopener">voted</a> alongside Republicans on the Louisiana Appropriations Committee to advance the legislation to the House floor. Democrats have historically been opposed to school choice proposals in part because of their strong ties to teachers unions. 
“I can&#8217;t close my eyes to the 67% of 3rd graders in public schools who cannot read. I cannot close my eyes to the number of kids living in poverty in our state that are trapped in failing schools,” he said. 
House Bill 745, known as the Giving All True Opportunity to Rise Scholarship Program, was <a href="https://www.thecentersquare.com/louisiana/article_9c9c0af2-f66f-11ee-b2b4-5f1e4cd0e84a.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">authored</a> by Republican Rep. Julie Emerson. It would create a three-phase education scholarship program starting with students in impoverished families before expanding out. 
<a href="https://onelink.to/dwapp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" aria-describedby="sk-tooltip-9096" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://onelink.to/dwapp&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1712759107458000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2Tu_bbgaIzPZlwVTiisdPO">CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP</a>
&#8220;This program will allow the money to truly follow the child and empower the parents to be able to choose the education that it is best for their child,&#8221; Emerson said. &#8220;I don&#8217;t believe this bill will shut down our public schools and nor is that my desire at all. I don&#8217;t believe there has been a single school closure in a state that has adopted an ESA program.&#8221;
If passed by the state Senate, Republican Governor Jeff Landry is expected to sign it as he praised the House’s passage of the bill. 
“The Louisiana House just passed the Gator Scholarship Program! This is a major step towards ensuring school choice, and empowering parents to choose the learning environments that align with their values and work best for their children,” he <a href="https://twitter.com/LAGovJeffLandry/status/1777473881407701449?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1777473881407701449%7Ctwgr%5Ea670631e402b5ded86dcd62da9de2c25578f4764%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecentersquare.com%2Flouisiana%2Farticle_9c9c0af2-f66f-11ee-b2b4-5f1e4cd0e84a.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>. 
Both Alabama and Georgia have already passed school choice measures this year and Tennessee is also looking to expand its school choice program as well as its legislative session winds down.

Screen Shot 2024-04-10 at 7.08.13 AM

Louisiana Democrat Votes For School Choice Bill, Says He Can No Longer Back ‘Failing Schools’

Democrats

Louisiana

U.S.

A nonprofit organization that provides <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/education">school choice</a> scholarships to low-income children has seen requests from parents looking to move their kids out of the public school system nearly triple since state governments&#8217; closed down schools across the country during COVID.
ACE Scholarships, a group that advocates for school choice, has seen requests for scholarships increase from 12,311 for the 2021-2022 school year to 32,113 for the 2023-2024 school year, according to data shared with The Daily Wire.
“Every kid learns differently, so a one-size-fits-all education system, no matter how well-meaning, cannot accommodate every student. The soaring demand for ACE scholarships is a testament to the hope school choice provides for students and their parents. We are committed to helping students find institutions where they can excel,” ACE CEO Norton Rainey told The Daily Wire.
For this school year, ACE has allocated 14,090 scholarships for kids to go to private schools worth $42,660,935. The organization is partnered with 1,000 schools nationwide and helps out families that have an average family income of $56,000 and average family size of 4.7 people, according to the data.
ACE said that students for whom it provided scholarships tested 54% more proficient in math and 34% more proficient in reading than their public school counterparts.
“This historic demand for educational freedom should empower states currently considering school choice legislation in 2024 to act now. Every kid — no matter what state they live in — deserves access to a high-quality education that sets them up for a lifetime of success. We can&#8217;t let them down,” Rainey said.
Lawmakers across the nation, from <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/tennessee-governor-unveils-bold-new-school-choice-initiative" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tennessee</a> to Texas, have pushed for expanding school choice opportunities amid declining educational achievement and lagging test scores. A report released last summer <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/u-s-reading-and-math-scores-for-13-year-olds-declined-to-lowest-level-in-decades-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener">showed</a> that math and reading test scores for 13-year-olds in the United States have hit their lowest levels in decades.
<a href="https://onelink.to/dwapp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" aria-describedby="sk-tooltip-9096" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://onelink.to/dwapp&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1700760801843000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2PQrVSrJfhxNb4LcARqniG">CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP</a>
While the Texas Senate passed a school choice measure in November, the Republican-controlled House <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/republican-controlled-texas-house-votes-down-school-choice-measure" target="_blank" rel="noopener">shot down</a> the proposal, which would have created a Texas Education Savings Account. An amendment to remove school choice from an omnibus education bill passed 84-63, with 21 Republicans voting for the amendment.
For this school year, ACE has provided 1,494 scholarships to lower-income Texas students worth $4,149,787.
The guiding <a href="https://www.acescholarships.org/who-we-are/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">principles</a> of ACE include that the “American public education system is flawed,” “free enterprise and democracy work,” and that “parents know the best education environment for their kids.”
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/illinois-democrats-kill-states-only-school-choice-program">Illinois Democrats Kill State’s Only School Choice Program</a>

Close-up of a chair on a student’s desk inside a classroom in a secondary school.

Education Nonprofit Says Requests For School Choice Scholarships Have Nearly Tripled Since COVID

Public Schools

Texas

Tennessee unveiled a broad new school choice initiative this week.
Governor Bill Lee (R) <a href="https://www.tn.gov/governor/news/2023/11/28/gov--lee--legislative-leadership-call-for-statewide-school-choice--unveil-education-freedom-scholarship-act.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> the Education Freedom Scholarship Act on Tuesday at the Tennessee State Museum alongside Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R). Arkansas adopted a universal school choice policy earlier this year.
Lee&#8217;s proposal would establish universal school choice for every public school student across the state.
Next school year, 20,000 scholarships would be available. Half of those would go to Tennessee students at or below 300% of the federal poverty line, who have a disability, or are eligible for the existing Education Savings Account pilot program.
By the school year that starts in 2025, all public school students would be eligible for a scholarship.
No bill has been formally filed in the legislature yet, but Lee <a href="https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/politics/2023/11/28/tennessee-school-choice-vouchers-gov-bill-lee-unveils-expanded-statewide-program/71714741007/#" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> his office would work with the legislature on the &#8220;final details&#8221; when the General Assembly reconvenes in January.
Families could spend their child&#8217;s scholarship money on tuition at a private or religious school, uniforms, technology, transportation, or home school expenses. Families can also spend the money on tutoring, after school programs, and SAT and ACT exam fees.
Lee also said the scholarship program would be funded separately from Tennessee&#8217;s Investment in Student Achievement funding structure for K-12 education.
Lee said Tennessee should do two things at once — strive to have the best public school system in the country and provide families with school choice.
&#8220;These two ideas are not in conflict, and conservative states across the country are proof,&#8221; Lee said in a statement provided to The Daily Wire.
<a href="https://onelink.to/dwapp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" aria-describedby="sk-tooltip-9096" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://onelink.to/dwapp&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1700760801843000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2PQrVSrJfhxNb4LcARqniG">CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP</a>
Lee added that he has &#8220;firsthand&#8221; knowledge of the benefits of school choice since his children have been in public school and private school and been homeschooled, and his wife is a teacher.
&#8220;We can all agree that every Tennessee child deserves a shot at success. Every student has unique needs and every classroom offers unique value,&#8221; Lee said. &#8220;Parents know best and should have the freedom to choose the right education for their child, regardless of income or zip code.&#8221;
Sanders praised Tennessee&#8217;s school choice plan, <a href="https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/politics/2023/11/28/tennessee-school-choice-vouchers-gov-bill-lee-unveils-expanded-statewide-program/71714741007/#" target="_blank" rel="noopener">calling</a> it part of &#8220;an absolute conservative education revolution in our country.”
A wave of school choice bills have worked their way through state legislatures in recent years. Arizona, Utah, Arkansas, Florida, Oklahoma, Ohio, Indiana, Iowa, South Carolina, and New Hampshire <a href="https://www.vox.com/politics/23689496/school-choice-education-savings-accounts-american-federation-children" target="_blank" rel="noopener">were all</a> successful in creating or expanding school choice programs.
During the pandemic, parents across the country became frustrated with school COVID restrictions and controversial curriculum content, <a href="https://cbsaustin.com/news/nation-world/parents-are-pulling-students-from-public-schools-at-record-rates-students-covid-pandemic-remote-learning-homeschooling-charter-private-mountain-districts" target="_blank" rel="noopener">leading</a> many families to pull their children out of public school permanently.

Trinity Alps Unified School District

Tennessee Governor Unveils Bold New School Choice Initiative

Charter Schools

Homeschooling

Private Schools

The Republican-controlled <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/texas" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Texas</a> House of Representatives voted to reject a school choice measure on Friday, drawing the ire of Republican Governor <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/greg-abbott" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Greg Abbott</a>. 
The measure to create a Texas Education Savings Account was taken out of an omnibus education bill after Republican Rep. John Raney introduced an amendment to take it out, saying that it was an entitlement program. The amendment to remove school choice from the bill passed 84-63, with 21 Republicans voting for the amendment. 
&#8220;I believe in my heart that using taxpayer dollars to fund an entitlement program is not conservative and is bad public policy, period,&#8221; Raney <a href="https://www.thecentersquare.com/texas/article_14793b12-85b9-11ee-8285-47ad47894109.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>, according to The Center Square. KVUE <a href="https://www.kvue.com/article/news/education/texas-school-vouchers-killed-education-bill-hb-1/269-86d6d02d-ef39-4a84-b863-baaad76eaeff" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> that most of the Republicans who supported the amendment were from rural districts. 
House Public Education Committee Chairman Brad Buckle, the author of the bill, <a href="https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2023/11/17/fight-over-school-choice-teacher-pay-bumps-expected-to-roil-texas-house/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> during debate on the bill that Texas lawmakers had the opportunity “for the first time in Texas, give parents of the most vulnerable real options for a better future for their kids.”
Abbott has consistently called for school choice, and said that he was disappointed with the House vote.
&#8220;I will continue advancing school choice in the Texas Legislature and at the ballot box, and will maintain the fight for parent empowerment until all parents can choose the best education path for their child,&#8221; Abbott <a href="https://www.statesman.com/story/news/politics/state/2023/11/17/school-choice-debate-sparks-heat-among-house-republicans/71585548007/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told</a> the Austin American-Statesman. &#8220;I am in it to win it.&#8221;
&#8220;The small minority of pro-union Republicans in the Texas House who voted with the Democrats will not derail the outcome that their voters demand,&#8221; he said. 
Lt. Governor Dan Patrick also criticized the decision, referring to the fact that the Texas Senate had passed school choice several times over the few years, including during the special session. Last week, the Senate <a href="https://www.tpr.org/education/2023-11-10/texas-senate-passes-legislation-to-create-school-voucher-like-program-again" target="_blank" rel="noopener">passed</a> a bill that would have allocated $8,000 per student in private or public school for education related costs. 
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/black-friday-gift-guide" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.dailywire.com/news/black-friday-gift-guide&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1700275166814000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0_FgIWtLXx8w2fSdMb8L-V">CHECK OUT THE DAILY WIRE BLACK FRIDAY SHOPPING GUIDE</a>
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) said that the Republicans who voted to take the school choice measure out of the education bill should be primaried. 
“The group of anti-parent Republican Texas State Reps. who voted today with radical unions over parents and kids to kill school choice should be on notice. Their actions today were completely shameful,” Cruz <a href="https://twitter.com/tedcruz/status/1725690928935940560" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>. “Parents in these districts will work vigorously in the primaries to defeat them. School choice advocates are coming for these State Reps.&#8217;s seats, and they&#8217;re coming HARD.”

Texas State Capitol

Republican-Controlled Texas House Votes Down School Choice Measure

Greg Abbott

<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/illinois">Illinois</a> Democrats allowed the state&#8217;s only school choice program to expire this week.
The Invest in Kids tax credit scholarship program will sunset at the end of the current school year after Illinois legislators ended the fall legislative session on Thursday without taking action to renew it.
The $75 million program <a href="https://www.wbez.org/stories/illinois-controversial-private-school-scholarship-program-is-ending/849c1d35-b525-4dde-adbf-9147aa38a224" target="_blank" rel="noopener">awards</a> an income tax credit to taxpayers who donate to scholarship funds that allow lower-income students to attend private schools.
About 9,700 Illinois students received scholarships last school year. The average family income for scholarship students was $45,000, <a href="https://empowerillinois.org/wp-content/uploads/EI_Y5_Report.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according</a> to Empower Illinois, the state’s largest scholarship granting organization.
Republicans and some Chicago-area Democrats had pushed to renew a slimmed-down version of the program for five years. The new version would have cut the program to $50 million, slashed the tax credit amount, and reduced the donation cap from $1 million to $500,000 as well as focused more on low-income students.
However, the majority of Democrats in the state House never backed the proposal, and Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, a Democrat, declined to call the bill to the floor.
On Monday, a group of Illinois House Democrats <a href="https://twitter.com/janschakowsky/status/1721674773669834859" target="_blank" rel="noopener">called</a> for scrapping the program, arguing that school vouchers &#8220;perpetuate and deepen the education inequities that plague Illinois&#8221; and complaining that many of the private schools are &#8220;run by religious groups&#8221; and &#8220;openly discriminate&#8221; on the basis of things like gender identity.
Meanwhile, hundreds of parents and others with signs reading “Save My Scholarship” rallied at the House <a href="https://www.wbez.org/stories/illinois-controversial-private-school-scholarship-program-is-ending/849c1d35-b525-4dde-adbf-9147aa38a224" target="_blank" rel="noopener">during</a> all six days of the fall legislative session.
<a href="https://onelink.to/dwapp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" aria-describedby="sk-tooltip-9096" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://onelink.to/dwapp&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1699717291626000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1PNINDjAvjSn1X4OOpYkXN">CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP</a>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Right outside the House Chamber!
SAVE MY SCHOLARSHIP KIDS OVER POLITICS CALL THE BILL <a href="https://twitter.com/ChrisWelch_JD?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ChrisWelch_JD</a> <a href="https://t.co/hUZsBb8ZKD">pic.twitter.com/hUZsBb8ZKD</a>
&mdash; Illinois Freedom Caucus 🇺🇸 (@ILFreedomCaucus) <a href="https://twitter.com/ILFreedomCaucus/status/1722680484663017488?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 9, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The Republican House minority leader, Tony McCombie, promised to fight to reauthorize the school choice program next year.
“I think there is some things that we can do to make it a better program, a more effective program, that could serve more students as well,” McCombie said.
Teachers unions were the main opponent of the Invest in Kids program.
The president of the Illinois Federation of Teachers celebrated in a statement on Thursday, saying there is a &#8220;nationwide push to divert public dollars from our public schools.&#8221;
“Illinois lawmakers chose to put our public schools first and end the state program that subsidized private, mostly religious schools, many of which have discriminatory policies,” union President Dan Montgomery said.
Over the last few years, the school choice issue has taken center stage in several states.
Florida expanded its school choice program and has <a href="https://www.nationalreview.com/news/florida-expanded-school-choice-defies-doomsday-predictions-as-tens-of-thousands-of-students-enroll/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">over 90,000</a> more students enrolled in private schools and other alternative education programs than last year.
In Arizona, more than <a href="https://www.fox10phoenix.com/news/2-arizona-school-choice-leaders-resign-as-controversy-over-the-program-continues" target="_blank" rel="noopener">60,000</a> students have used the state&#8217;s Empowerment Scholarship Accounts, a number that skyrocketed over the last year.

Parents Call For Childcare Subsidies

Illinois Democrats Kill State’s Only School Choice Program

Illinois Democrats Kill State's Only School Choice Program

Illinois

The American Federation for Children, which joined its political affiliates and allies to spend $9 million in the 2022 election season to back political candidates supporting school choice, is launching a super PAC called AFC Victory Fund to target state legislators who oppose school choice for students.
The organization <a href="https://www.federationforchildren.org/afc-announces-launch-of-affiliated-afc-victory-fund-super-pac/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">states</a> that in 2022, it succeeded in 277 out of 368 races, “a 75% success rate that included the defeat of at least 40 anti-school choice incumbents.”
“Coming off our best election cycle ever, the tectonic plates have shifted decisively in favor of educational freedom, and we’re just getting started,” AFC CEO Tommy Schultz celebrated. “With AFC Victory Fund, we are taking our work to the next level, intending to invest at least $10 million in state-level races to ensure the interests of parents are represented at ballot boxes in key districts from coast to coast. With $6 million already committed, we are shaping up to have our best cash position ever ahead of the primary season.
“If you’re a candidate or lawmaker who opposes school choice and freedom in education – you’re a target,” he continued. “If you’re a champion for parents – we’ll be your shield. Especially when we see news that even teachers unions bosses are choosing private schools for their own kids, we are motivated to ensure all families have those options available for their own children, not just for the elected or politically connected.”
Ryan Cantrell, the organization&#8217;s director of government affairs, told <a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/education/school-choice-group-launches-super-pac-target-states" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Washington Examiner</a>:
<blockquote>
There is endless amounts of money that the unions have to fight to keep school choice from expanding even further, but that&#8217;s why AFC is excited about this [PAC] because it gives us more flexibility, it gives us more ability to have an impact on some of those places where the union grip is still too strong. This structure is going to allow us to scale up and be even more nimble, be more effective, than we have been previously.
</blockquote>
“Republicans, Democrats, independents, all agree that parents should have more options for their kids,” he continued. “And so that&#8217;s what we&#8217;re really trying to seize on right now — the majority of parents really want to see this happen.”
In 2020, as he was running for president, Joe Biden <a href="https://twitter.com/JoeBiden/status/1220182792304308225" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>, &#8220;When we divert public funds to private schools, we undermine the entire public education system. We&#8217;ve got to prioritize investing in our public schools, so every kid in America gets a fair shot. That&#8217;s why I oppose vouchers.&#8221;

Library, books on table and background for studying, learning and research in education, school or college. Reading, philosophy and open, vintage or history print book, university blurred background

School Choice Group Launches Super PAC To Target Anti-School Choice Legislators

Joe Biden

Super PACs

Tech entrepreneur <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/vivek-ramaswamy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Vivek Ramaswamy</a> called for shutting down the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/department-of-education" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Department of Education</a> and moving that funding &#8220;in the hands of parents&#8221; so they could have the opportunity to decide where to educate their children. 
Ramaswamy made the comments Wednesday during the first 2024 Republican <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/2024-gop-presidential-debate-live-updates-as-eight-republicans-face-off-in-milwaukee" target="_blank" rel="noopener">presidential primary debate</a> in <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/milwaukee" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Milwaukee</a>, Wisconsin. More than $79 billion was allocated to the Department of Education in fiscal year 2023. Ramaswamy also advocated the end of local teachers unions, which have been a barrier to school choice and charter school initiatives. 
“We have a crisis of achievement. Let&#8217;s shut down the head of the snake, the Department of Education. Take that $80 billion and put it in the hands of parents across this country. This is the civil rights issue of our time,” he said. “Allow any parent to choose where they send their kids to school. End the teachers unions at the local level to allow public schools to compete, and then revive our national identity.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
True “privilege” is not based on the color of your skin. It’s being raised in a stable family with two parents with a focus on education and a faith in God. That’s the ultimate “privilege.” As President, it’ll be my job to make sure we help every kid in this country be able to… <a href="https://t.co/1XFaFe6eao">pic.twitter.com/1XFaFe6eao</a>
&mdash; Vivek Ramaswamy (@VivekGRamaswamy) <a href="https://twitter.com/VivekGRamaswamy/status/1694541273015668815?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 24, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Additionally, Ramaswamy said that high school seniors should be required to take the same civics test that immigrants must pass to become citizens. He said that the crisis in American education, as kids have seen declining scores in key subjects like math and reading, is partly linked to fatherlessness. 
“Part of the problem is we also have a federal government that pays single women more not to have a man in the house than to have a man in the house, contributing to an epidemic of fatherlessness, and I think that goes hand in glove with the education crisis as well, because we have to remember: Education starts with the family; and, the nuclear family is the greatest form of governance known to mankind,” Ramaswamy said. 
Other candidates had similar answers on the topic of education. South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott also went after teachers unions. 
<a class="c-link c-link--focus-visible" href="https://onelink.to/dwapp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="https://onelink.to/dwapp" data-sk="tooltip_parent" aria-describedby="sk-tooltip-7976">CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILY WIRE APP</a>
“The only way we can change education in this country is to break the backs of the teachers&#8217; unions. They are standing in the door-house of our kids, locking them into failing schools, locking them out of the greatest future they can have,” Scott said. 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
TIM SCOTT says &quot;the only way we change education in this nation is to BREAK THE BACKS OF THE TEACHERS UNIONS&quot; <a href="https://t.co/9Jzw8axHjD">pic.twitter.com/9Jzw8axHjD</a>
&mdash; Corey A. DeAngelis, school choice evangelist (@DeAngelisCorey) <a href="https://twitter.com/DeAngelisCorey/status/1694544388905464129?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 24, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said that Left-leaning politics were hampering education nationwide. &#8220;We need education in this country, not indoctrination in this country,” he said. 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
RON DESANTIS: &quot;We need education in this country, not indoctrination in this country.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/PDNs167lh1">pic.twitter.com/PDNs167lh1</a>
&mdash; Corey A. DeAngelis, school choice evangelist (@DeAngelisCorey) <a href="https://twitter.com/DeAngelisCorey/status/1694540603948765611?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 24, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The debate took place at the Fiserv Forum and featured eight Republican candidates. Notably absent was former President Donald Trump, who opted to do a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-tucker-interview-racks-up-massive-views-addresses-debate-skip-indictments" target="_blank" rel="noopener">one-on-one interview</a> with Tucker Carlson that was released on X minutes before the debate began.

2024 Presidential Candidates Participate In Republican Primary Debate

Ramaswamy: Shut Down Dept Of Education, Move Funding To Parents To Allow School Choice

2024 Primaries

Debates

Department of Education

Elections

Milwaukee

Politics

Republican Primary

Ron DeSantis

Teachers Unions

The Pennsylvania GOP learned life lesson number one recently: don&#8217;t be so eager to work with the Left.
That knowledge came the hard way for <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/pennsylvania-governor-caves-to-teachers-union-on-school-choice" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Keystone State Republicans</a> after Democratic Governor Josh Shapiro went back on his word that he would sign a new school choice program into law. It should not come as any surprise that a Democrat politician put some of his biggest donors, the teachers unions, ahead of students. Yet for some reason, it was a wake-up call for those in Pennsylvania.
Shapiro has often indicated that he supports the state GOP&#8217;s plan to fund $100 million worth of vouchers for private and public schools. That plan passed in Pennsylvania&#8217;s GOP-controlled state Senate but faced scrutiny in the state House. Democrats — and their major backers — fiercely opposed the plan. The House slowed down the budget&#8217;s passage while demanding an increase in public school funding. So, in turn, Shapiro reneged on his compromises with the GOP and used his line-item veto to strike it from the deal on Wednesday.
On Thursday, the Senate Republicans issued a statement, apparently dumbfounded that a Democrat would do such a thing.
&#8220;We negotiated in good faith and were eager to stand with Governor Shapiro on one of his priority campaign commitments — supporting school choice opportunities,&#8221; the state Senate GOP said in a statement Thursday. &#8220;Today, Governor Shapiro has decided to betray the good faith agreement we reached, leaving tens of thousands of children across Pennsylvania in failing schools.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Statement from Pennsylvania Senate Republicans: &quot;We negotiated in good faith and were eager to stand with Governor Shapiro on one of his priority campaign commitments – supporting school choice opportunities. Today, Governor Shapiro has decided to betray the good faith agreement… <a href="https://t.co/aunQgeLcbZ">pic.twitter.com/aunQgeLcbZ</a>
&mdash; Corey A. DeAngelis, school choice evangelist (@DeAngelisCorey) <a href="https://twitter.com/DeAngelisCorey/status/1676794828552544256?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 6, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Yet those who paid attention should have known that this plan was always a pipe dream.
Despite Shapiro voicing support for school choice, the political wing of Pennsylvania&#8217;s largest teachers union, the <a>Pennsylvania State Education Association, heavily supported Democrats in the 2022 election cycle and opposed voucher programs. </a>
Per <a href="https://www.dailysignal.com/2023/03/17/will-teachers-unions-political-contributions-prevent-school-choice-in-pennsylvania/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Daily Signal</a>, PSEA&#8217;s political action committee &#8220;donated $775,000 to Shapiro’s gubernatorial campaign, more than $1 million to Democratic legislative candidates, and just over $300,000 to Republicans.&#8221;
<a href="https://onelink.to/dwapp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" aria-describedby="sk-tooltip-9096" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://onelink.to/dwapp&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1688648178298000&amp;usg=AOvVaw10v0UGh9BJZV8inaPuI6t7">CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP</a>
&#8220;That’s a lot of money and influence for the proponents of school choice to overcome,&#8221; The Daily Signal&#8217;s Kevin Mooney predicted.
Indeed, PSEA president Richard Askey condemned Shapiro&#8217;s plan before the Senate even passed it.
Askey <a href="https://northpennnow.com/pennsylvanias-largest-teachers-union-breaks-with-gov-shapiro-over-voucher-p7028-117.htm#:~:text=In%20his%20Friday%20statement%2C%20Askey,approve%20a%20new%20spending%20plan." target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> that &#8220;diverting one cent of taxpayer money to a tuition voucher scheme for private and religious schools is absolutely irresponsible, no matter what name you call it.&#8221;
The Democratic Party, contrary to their feigned desire for bipartisanship, is in this business to win it. They are not looking for compromise or to do the honorable thing — unless it helps their party or expands Democrat power.
Consider that Shapiro is the same guy who stood alongside President Joe Biden as he <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2022/11/05/remarks-by-president-biden-at-a-democratic-national-committee-rally/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">blasted</a> &#8220;MAGA Republicans&#8221; as being threats to democracy. He&#8217;s the same guy who stood by Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) as his campaign told the Pennsylvanian people that he had virtually zero health problems on the campaign trail — despite suffering from depression and the effects of a stroke. Shapiro is also the same politician who reportedly has his <a href="https://www.inquirer.com/news/josh-shapiro-president-future-20230117.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">eyes set on higher office</a>.
In light of all that, and with his potential political future on the line, why would anybody trust him to operate with integrity?
It should be assumed Shapiro — and every other Democratic leader — has the same animus that Biden, the de facto leader of the party, has for the GOP. The fish rots from the head down, as they say.
When dealing with the Left, it is best to be smart and assume the worst; good faith negotiations with the Democrats don&#8217;t exist. They only understand political muscle — whether it&#8217;s being flexed by their donors or their Republican opponents.
The views expressed in this piece are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

Joe Biden, Josh Shapiro

Life Lesson Number One: Don’t Be So Eager To Work With The Left

Life Lesson Number One: Don't Be So Eager To Work With The Left

Democratic Party

Pennsylvania

<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/pennsylvania" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pennsylvania</a> Governor Josh Shapiro dropped his previous demands for a $100 million school vouchers program from the state budget after fierce opposition from <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/teachers-unions">teachers unions</a> and other Democrats.
The voucher program was supported by the Republican-controlled state Senate, but stalled in the Democratic state House. While the budget contained many Democratic priorities, such as increased spending for education and state funding for legal defense (Pennsylvania is currently the <a href="https://www.spotlightpa.org/news/2023/04/pa-public-defense-gov-shapiro/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">only state</a> that does not fund public defenders – that responsibility rests with its counties), the voucher program faced fierce opposition from the Pennsylvania State Education Association, the largest teachers union in the state. That opposition was enough to stall the state budget past its June 30 deadline, leading Shapiro to back down.
“Our Commonwealth should not be plunged into a painful, protracted budget impasse while our communities wait for the help and resources this commonsense budget will deliver,” Shapiro said. “Knowing that the two chambers will not reach consensus at this time to enact [the voucher program], and unwilling to hold up our entire budget process over this issue, I will line-item veto the full $100 million appropriation and it will not be part of this budget bill,” Shapiro <a href="https://www.spotlightpa.org/news/2023/07/pennsylvania-budget-josh-shapiro-education-school-vouchers-deal/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>.
School choice was a <a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/community-family/midterms-2022-here-are-the-issues-pennsylvania-voters-care-about-the-most" target="_blank" rel="noopener">major</a> issue in the Keystone state’s gubernatorial race in 2022 – second only to crime. According to the state’s own assessments, in 2021, 78% of 8th-graders were <a href="https://spn.org/articles/pennsylvania-lifeline-scholarships-improve-education-access/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">not proficient</a> in math and 47% were not proficient in language arts.
In early September, fairly late in the campaign, Shapiro broke with many Democrats by quietly voicing his <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/a-democrat-defects-on-school-choice-josh-shapiro-pennsylvania-lifeline-scholarship-education-savings-account-teachers-union-election-11663615562" target="_blank" rel="noopener">support</a> for “adding choices for parents and educational opportunity for students and funding lifeline scholarships like those approved in other states and introduced in Pennsylvania.&#8221; His Republican opponent, Doug Mastriano, proposed his own voucher program that would have also cut education spending significantly. Mastriano&#8217;s proposal was <a href="https://www.wesa.fm/education/2022-09-16/pennsylvanias-largest-teachers-union-denounces-mastrianos-plan-to-cut-education-spending" target="_blank" rel="noopener">denounced</a> by the PSEA as &#8220;devastating.&#8221;
Shapiro’s preferred program, the Lifeline Scholarship, would’ve given students from low performing public schools $7,000 in education vouchers to spend at a school of their family’s choice, including private schools. The proposal was supported by Republicans and some Democrats from districts with poor public schools, but was <a href="https://www.mcall.com/2023/06/23/josh-shapiro-private-school-vouchers/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">categorically rejected</a> by most state Democrats, as well as <a href="https://www.psea.org/voucherletterrelease" target="_blank" rel="noopener">teachers unions and other interest groups</a>.
“PSEA is absolutely opposed to ‘lifeline scholarships’ or any other tuition voucher scheme,” Richard Askey, President of the PSEA, <a href="https://www.psea.org/VouchersRelease06232023" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> as the budget deadline neared in late June. Citing a <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2023/02/09/pennsylvania-school-funding-lawsuit/#:~:text=In%20a%20786%2Dpage%20ruling,obligation%20to%20educate%20young%20people." target="_blank" rel="noopener">ruling</a> from a Pennsylvania court that said the state had “unconstitutionally” failed to fund schools in poor communities, Askey called the voucher program a “distraction” and a “terrible idea” that would interfere with the state’s constitutional mandate to educate its youth.
<a href="https://onelink.to/dwapp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" aria-describedby="sk-tooltip-9096" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://onelink.to/dwapp&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1688648178298000&amp;usg=AOvVaw10v0UGh9BJZV8inaPuI6t7">CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP</a>
“Diverting one cent of taxpayer money to a tuition voucher scheme for private and religious schools is absolutely irresponsible, no matter what name you call it,” Askey said.
In 2022, the PSEA donated <a href="https://www.dailysignal.com/2023/03/17/will-teachers-unions-political-contributions-prevent-school-choice-in-pennsylvania/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">over $1 million</a> to Democratic candidates for the state legislature, as well as $775,000 to Shapiro and over $300,000 to Republican candidates.
&nbsp;

Josh Shapiro Sworn In As Governor Of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Governor Caves To Teachers Union On School Choice

Iowa was flooded with more than 25,000 applications for the state&#8217;s new school choice savings accounts, nearly twice as many as the program&#8217;s budget can fund.
A total of 25,576 students have <a href="https://www.thegazette.com/state-government/iowa-budgeted-for-14000-education-savings-accounts-twice-that-many-applied/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">signed up</a> for an education savings account as of Friday, hours before the midnight deadline. Iowa began accepting applications just a month earlier, on May 31.
The education savings accounts give families about $7,600 per year in state money to spend on tuition or other education expenses related to an accredited private school.
The Iowa legislature budgeted $107.4 million for the program, which would only fund about 14,000 students, the number the nonpartisan Legislative Services Agency <a href="https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/publications/FN/1374191.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">estimated</a> would sign up during the first year.
Iowa would have to spend about $195.3 million to fund every student who applied for the program.
The education savings accounts are the result of the Students First Act, which Republican Governor Kim Reynolds signed in January. Any K-12 student in Iowa can apply for the program.
“Public schools are the foundation of our education system and for most families they will continue to be the option of choice, but they aren’t the only choice,” Reynolds <a href="https://governor.iowa.gov/press-release/2023-01-24/gov-reynolds-signs-students-first-act-law" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> at the time.
“For some families, a different path may be better for their children. With this bill, every child in Iowa, regardless of zip code or income, will have access to the school best suited for them,” the governor said.
The total number of approved education savings accounts will be made public after certified school enrollment numbers are finalized in the fall, the governor&#8217;s office said.
All education savings accounts that get approved will be funded, the Iowa education department <a href="https://www.thegazette.com/state-government/iowa-budgeted-for-14000-education-savings-accounts-twice-that-many-applied/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told</a> The Gazette.
&#8220;I do think it demonstrates a pent-up need in the state of Iowa for this program, and it’s good to see the people who wanted this option are taking advantage of it,&#8221; <a href="https://www.thegazette.com/state-government/iowa-budgeted-for-14000-education-savings-accounts-twice-that-many-applied/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> state Representative John Wills, a Republican, who floor managed the bill in the House.
School choice programs exploded in popularity during and after the pandemic as parents became frustrated with public school lockdowns, falling grades due to remote learning, and in some cases, objectionable curriculum content.
Public schools saw an exodus of students who left for alternatives like private and charter schools as well as homeschooling. More than a million students left public schools in the first two years after COVID hit. In 2021, private school enrollment jumped 4%, and homeschool enrollment jumped 30%, according to an <a href="https://www.urban.org/research/publication/where-kids-went-nonpublic-schooling-and-demographic-change-during-pandemic" target="_blank" rel="noopener">analysis</a> by the Urban Institute.
<a class="c-link c-link--focus-visible" href="https://onelink.to/dwapp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="https://onelink.to/dwapp" data-sk="tooltip_parent">CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILY WIRE APP</a>
Many states responded by increasing their school choice options. At least 20 states have <a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/community-family/us-students-start-academic-year-with-massive-gains-in-school-choice">enacted</a> new or expanded school choice policies since 2021.
Arizona saw a similar explosion of applications last year when the state massively <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/arizona-teachers-unions-attempt-to-nix-school-choice-expansion-appears-to-fail" target="_blank" rel="noopener">expanded</a> its school voucher program to every K-12 student. Republican Governor Doug Ducey signed a bill allowing every student to get a taxpayer-funded Empowerment Scholarship Account of about $6,500 per child.
In just the first two weeks after Arizona began accepting applications, the state saw about 6,800 new students apply for the school vouchers.
Meanwhile, about 72% of public schools <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/students-are-still-struggling-post-pandemic">reported</a> higher rates of chronic absenteeism, meaning students who miss at least 15 school days a year, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Most public schools also reported that the pandemic had negatively affected students’ socio-emotional and behavioral development.

GERMANY-EDUCATION-SCHOOL-HEALTH-VIRUS

Iowa Flooded With Over 25K Applications For New School Choice Funds

Iowa

Menu