E&W Blog

This week, we are celebrating the promise of school choice. You all are here today because that promise is making a difference in your lives, as well as in the lives of students across the country.

It’s the promise of school choice that provides real hope to moms and dads. And it’s the promise of school choice that has provided each and every one of you – and countless others – the hope that a high-quality education and a greater chance to succeed in life are within reach.

The challenge we face is extending the promise of school choice to more students and families. As chairwoman of the House education committee, that is a challenge I take seriously and one I am committed to tackling head-on.

Every student in every school deserves an excellent education. Unfortunately, we are falling far short of that goal.

Our country deserves better. You deserve better.

That’s why improving K-12 education and empowering parents to do what’s best for their children’s education have been important priorities.

With the Every Student Succeeds Act – now the law of the land – we advanced reforms to expand school choice, such as increasing access to high-quality charter schools and magnet schools, protecting home schools from federal interference, and launching a pilot program that will encourage excellent schools to enroll harder-to-serve students.

As we move forward, we will work to make sure these important reforms are implemented in a way that adheres to the letter and intent of the law. We will also explore additional opportunities to provide parents more choices.

Innovative charter schools, magnet schools, homeschooling, and scholarship programs have provided thousands of families new hope and opportunity. Let’s help extend that hope and opportunity to every community across the country.

Fortunately, with a new Congress and a new Republican administration, there is more interest in delivering real school-choice solutions than ever before. I am encouraged by the momentum that is already building and look forward to the work ahead.

As we do our part in Congress, I encourage you to continue to do your part as well. Do not underestimate the power you have to make a difference.

You can make a difference by sharing your stories with other policymakers and with people in and around your local communities. They need to hear from you and see how school choice has changed your life.

You can also help make a difference by working hard and exceling in all that you do. You have been given an opportunity many students only dream of. Cherish that opportunity and use it wisely.

Through your inspiring example, you can show the nation that school choice is a powerful tool to help children succeed in school and in life.