E&W Blog

Yesterday, the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education held a hearing that examined the benefits of school choice policy.

A high-quality education is a pathway to a successful future for our nation’s children. Unfortunately, some students are trapped in failing school systems and do not have the means or ability to leave.

Subcommittee Chairman Kevin Kiley (R-CA) kicked off the hearing by highlighting how communities that embrace school choice have seen tremendous success in their students. 
“The Success Academy charter network has over 50 schools in New York City serving mostly low-income, minority students. Success Academy has ranked number one in the entire state of New York in math scores. And the KIPP Charter Network, which stands for Knowledge is Power Program, has over 240 schools nationwide focused on underserved communities. A 2023 Mathematica study found KIPP students were twice as likely to complete college as their peers,” said Kiley. 
EdChoice’s Dr. Michael McShane echoed Chairman Kiley and emphasized how school choice programs generally help raise participants’ academic results. “Looking at the results for students participating in private school choice programs, 17 random assignment studies have been conducted; 11 found positive results for some or all students, 4 found no effect, and only 2 found negative effects.”

Witnesses also shared the success they’ve seen in their own lives when given more educational options. 
“I was supposed to be a statistic or in prison. If it weren’t for school choice there’s no telling where I would be,” said Walter Blanks, Jr., Spokesperson for the American Federation for Children and a former school choice program participant. “My perspective is we give every family school choice and allow parents to drive where they send their child to school because that’s the most important thing a parent can do for their child.” 
Chairman Tim Walberg (R-MI) asked Jenny Clark, Founder of Love Your School, how school choice benefits those who have special needs such as learning disabilities. Clark told Chairman Walberg, “In Arizona the percentage of students with disabilities that are on the ESA program is higher than the Arizona public school system. About 18 percent of those on the Arizona ESA program are those with disabilities who[se] families believe that they were not being served in their local public school system.” 
Representative Mark Harris (R-NC) highlighted how school choice helps parents, and critics of these policies don’t seem to want to talk about why families want to send their children to a different school in the first place. “Parents in my district tell me that school choice is a priority of theirs and they really long for anything that we can do at the federal level to make that easier,” said Rep. Harris. “Is it just me or is the conversation that one side of this debate is having totally disconnected from the conversations that real families are having around their kitchen tables about how to best educate their kids?”

Democrats spent the hearing referring to school choice as a “scam” that only benefits billionaires. At one point, Democrats told Mrs. Clark, a mother of five, that they disagree with the $7,500 she received for her disabled children’s education while their household income was completely dependent on student loans. Democrats refused to believe that Mrs. Clark would choose an ESA over a traditional public school and its “wrap-around” services. Once again, Democrats thinking they know better than what Mrs. Clark and Mrs. Clark’s kids need. 
Democrats also repeated the tired line that public schools need more funding even though funding for public education has never been higher and test scores have reached long-term lows. “I don’t believe that our public schools are failing; I believe that is a narrative that is created at the national level,” said the Democrat-invited witness, Ms. Jessica Levin, Litigation Director for the Education Law Center. This was stated even though recent national reading and math scores show a significant decline.

Levin’s testimony criticized school choice at length, saying that “students who use vouchers experience worse educational outcomes than their public school peers,” and that private schools “are subject to few if any quality and accountability standards.” When it came time for questions, Mr. Owens asked her, “So did you go to a public school system?” She replied, “No, I went to a private school.” Mr. Owens responded, “You went to Head-Royce School… You had a choice in Oakland to go to a public school… Your parents had a choice. [But] your parents paid $30,000-$50,000 a year. What gets me is how people like yourself…come here and say how well it doesn’t work.”

Bottom line: You shouldn’t have to come from a wealthy Democrat family to have educational options. School choice policy prevents students from being trapped in failing systems and sets our youth up for successful futures. Education and Workforce Committee Republicans will continue to fight for policies like school choice that put more power in the hands of parents and students rather than one-size-fits-all mandates.