School Choice Week
This week is national school choice week and Iowan families can celebrate knowing that the School Choice Bill passed the Legislature and Gov. Reynolds is expected to sign it today. This bill will allow students who wish to switch to private school $7,600 in tuition costs which is what the taxpayers invest into each student. This bill is a win for students at all schools.
Without school choice legislation, public schools do not have to invest in the education system compared to the investments private schools make. For a private school to succeed they cannot afford to allow their students to fall behind academically or to have decreased opportunities. Often private school education offers kids more opportunities for educational advancement than public schools.
Public schools will now have to compete with increased homeschooling rates and private schools to have students attend their schools. This should push them to increase educational advancement for students. Instead of going woke with teacher's unions, they should focus on teaching students the tools they need to succeed. With private school and homeschooling, parents are more involved in their kid's education. Parents should be allowed to know what is going on in the classroom. The public school system should not try to raise and parent children. Instead of focusing on reading and math, many public schools have focused on social issues and have failed to help children succeed academically.
The lockdowns gave parents a window into what transpires while their children are at school. Not only were parents now aware of teachers weaponizing their position to become social activists, but they also saw how far their children were falling behind academically. The number one way for a child to be lifted out of poverty is to receive a good education. Children with parents who have the means to send them to a private school should not be the only children that can receive the education they deserve. School choice vouchers will go a long way in ensuring that every kid can attend the school that best fits their needs.
Public school education is not being left behind with pro-student bills. The change is that instead of funding systems states will be funding students. Public schools will have to step up to compete with private schools and homeschool students. Education should not be a monopoly. Competition always brings forth new ideas and ways to improve the system for the best results. The best thing for our country is to provide students with the keys they need for their success. When we believe in students and give them access to a great education they will succeed. Every child deserves the chance to live the life they dream about. A good education is a foundation of what makes that dream possible.