Staff Reports
The recent election results proved once again that school choice remains a hot-button issue, one that teachers’ unions are eager to bury in the ground. Despite the significant backing for school choice initiatives, the enemies of educational freedom came out in full force, especially in Colorado, where a proposed measure to constitutionally protect school choice lost by a slim margin of 51%-49%. It’s as if the unions decided to throw money at the problem, hoping to keep parents shackled to failing public schools.
However, there’s good news on the horizon. With Donald Trump returning to the presidency, the momentum for school choice is brighter than ever. The House Ways and Means Committee has successfully pushed forward the Educational Choice for Children Act, a groundbreaking legislative effort that promises to establish a national tax credit scholarship program. Donors who fund K-12 scholarships will be rewarded with tax credits, promoting a system where families can choose the best educational paths for their children. Although the fate of this bill hinges on the Republican hold of the House, having Trump in charge could give it a much-needed boost against a sea of opposition.
The aroma of disappointment in union-controlled kitchens will certainly linger, as the bill faces staunch resistance from Democrats and a formidable alliance of teachers unions. Yet hope is not lost. With 30 enthusiastic senators co-sponsoring the bill, a successful floor vote could turn the tide in favor of school choice — if it ever gets a chance, that is. But considering the unlikely prospect of swaying seven Democratic senators to support the bill, it may remain another wish casting in the night.
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School choice advocates faced setbacks as ballot initiatives in Colorado, Nebraska, and Kentucky failed due to significant opposition from teachers unions. A Colorado measure to enshrine school choice in the state constitution lost narrowly, while…— The America One News (@am1_news) November 10, 2024
Despite the Democrats’ claims that the defeats of school choice initiatives demonstrate its unpopularity, the reality is starkly different. Voters across states like Kentucky, Nebraska, and Colorado may have resisted the advances of school choice this time, but the narrative is changing. Even the Democratic governor of Kentucky might just be a little too quick to call this a “clear message.” Accountability in public schools, after all, has been an ongoing debate, and parents are becoming increasingly aware of where their tax dollars are going.
At the national level, the Educational Choice for Children Act could enable parents in blue states, usually under the oppressive thumb of teacher unions, to finally exercise their right to choose. All over the country, families are packing their bags and leaving public schools that have failed them. The truth is, the movement for school choice is not merely about legislation but about empowering parents and children. As over a million parents have already taken this radical step away from public schooling since 2019, the writing is on the wall that real change is coming, even if legacy media and union lobbyists are too busy denying it.
