Avast, me hearties! Be it known that every wee scallywag be entitled to knowledge and liberty. Hoist the sails and spread the word across the land!
2023-09-29
Avast ye landlubbers! Each scallywag be worthy o' learnin'! Bring education liberty to all me hearties, grantin' parents greater sway with this fine school pickin'. The doubloons must bless the young minds, not them school scallywags!
There has been a revolution in American states in recent years, giving parents more control over their children's education. The problems with the government-controlled public education system have been exposed, including politically motivated curricula and the influence of teachers unions and politicians. In response, parents have been standing up to take back control. One way to do this is by addressing the cost of attendance, which forces many parents to send their kids to public schools. West Virginia became the first state with a near-universal Education Savings Account (ESA) policy, allowing parents to direct their education dollars towards their child's needs. Other states, like Arizona, Iowa, Utah, Arkansas, and Florida, have followed suit with universal ESA programs. The premise behind these policies is that parents are the best judges of what is best for their children's education. Education freedom programs change how money flows to provide a public service, improving outcomes while bypassing bureaucratic and union actors. Studies have shown positive effects on public school students' test scores. There are various policy options to enhance education freedom, such as open enrollment, virtual schools, charter schools, and homeschooling. Oklahoma provides a model with the Open Transfer Act and the Oklahoma Parental Choice Tax Credit. Currently, over 18 million students have access to some form of education freedom program. However, more work needs to be done. Public education should be accountable to parents, and every student and parent deserves a chance to succeed and have a say in their education. It is time for parents and policymakers to come together and build on the progress made in the states.