School Choice Clips for Wednesday, April 9, 2025
Why ESA's in Texas and updates across the school choice landscape
Dallas Morning News: Amber Okolo-Ebube: School choice exists in Texas, but it belongs to the privileged. ESAs would change that [Paywall]
There’s a single story being told about what homeschoolers want in Texas, now shared by several conservative representatives who have until recently been considered a “yes” vote to Education Savings Account legislation in the House.
The loudest voices often say, “We don’t want government money, because with government money comes government oversight.” In truth, I used to share this concern. It was an easy concern to have as I yelled from my suburban house to my hardworking husband that we would just make sacrifices to homeschool our kids. After all, we already had school choice. We were free to homeschool with limited government oversight.
. . . Texas families are seeking options in unprecedented numbers. We now have, according to some estimates, more than 750,000 homeschooled learners — more than the entire Dallas ISD. This is not a fringe movement. And it’s becoming a new, pluralist normal with Black, Latino and Asian families increasingly participating, based on National Home Education Research Institute data. Choice is the American way and certainly the Texas way as well.
National:
Washington Times: Mary Vought: Why no more Department of Education is good news for parents of special-needs children
President Trump’s recent executive order laying out a plan for dismantling the Department of Education represents good news for families nationwide. As the mother of a child with special needs and a former member of the National Council on Disability, I can attest that the benefits will extend to children with disabilities as well. Lest special-needs parents have concerns about the future of Individuals with Disabilities Education Act funding, the order itself does not reduce such funding by 1 cent. Mr. Trump, or any other president, cannot reduce IDEA funding even if he wants to. That responsibility lies with Congress. Indeed, the order instructs the secretary of education to ensure “rigorous compliance with federal law,” including IDEA funding and requirements existing in statute. However, to the extent that the administration and Congress can work to devolve responsibility for education policy to states and local governments, all students will benefit from greater opportunities.
The 74: Greg Toppo: The NAEP Test ‘Absolutely’ Needs to Stay, Linda McMahon Says. The Education Department? Not So Much
https://www.the74million.org/article/linda-mcmahon-education-department-naep/
U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon on Tuesday told a crowd of educators, tech executives and investors that public education in America is unsustainable, suggesting that the nation’s low literacy and math scores show it has “gotten to a point that we just can’t keep going along doing what we’re doing.” Speaking at the annual ASU+GSV Summit in San Diego, McMahon, the former CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment, said, “Let’s shake it up. Let’s do something different. And it’s not through bureaucracy in Washington — that is not where it happens.”
WIBC: Dr. Ben Carson: School Choice Key To Education [Audio]
https://wibc.com/599007/dr-ben-carson-school-choice-key-to-education/
Democrats are livid. Thousands protested over the weekend decrying the Trump administration policies. One of them is the elimination of the Department of Education. But what are Dems angry over, the education of children, or are they outraged that support for edu-crats may be cut down. Dr Ben Carson joins Tony Katz Today to talk about what works to educate children and how we as a nation should move forward.
Alabama:
Al.com: Rebecca Griesbach: More than 36,000 students apply for 14,000 spots in Alabama’s new school choice program
Nearly 37,000 Alabama students have signed up for the state’s newest school choice program, which would give families thousands of taxpayer dollars to use for private education. But not every student’s family will get a check in July for private school tuition; current funding can support up to 14,000 students in the program’s first year. The CHOOSE Act provides families with up to $7,000 in education savings accounts to use on private school tuition or up to $2,000 per student for home education expenses. State leaders say the $100 million program, which closed its applications on April 7, saw a “strong response” from families across the state.
Florida:
Washington Examiner: Florida’s public schools are competing. The rest of the nation should take note [Paywall]
The most common argument I hear teachers union advocates and politicians promulgate is that private school choice destroys public schools. All over America, the school choice battle rages on, with the largest teachers union, politicians, and anti-school choice advocates fighting against education freedom, sometimes because they believe it will protect their beloved neighborhood schools. But this is an outdated approach, and outdated system, and it is well past time for public school districts and public school advocates to reframe their thinking. Instead of fighting for the preservation of something that’s not working, how can public schools innovate and adapt in the new age of education freedom? Florida’s model may be the answer.
Next Steps: Roger Mooney: Taking advantage of her opportunities, Zori reaches Step 1 of her life plan – an Ivy League scholarship
Zori, 17, is set to graduate in May near the top of her class from St. Thomas Aquinas High School (STA) in Fort Lauderdale. She will continue her education at Dartmouth College, an Ivy League school in Hanover, New Hampshire, where she received a volleyball scholarship. She will major in finance. The end goal hasn’t changed – become a CFO, possibly on Wall Street. “She’ll be something someday, that’s for sure,” Lisa Zielinski, STA’s volleyball coach, said. Ambitious goals like these and the means to reach them are what attracted Zori to STA. She attends the academically and athletically competitive private Catholic high school with the help of a Family Empowerment Scholarship for Educational Options (FES-EO). The scholarship is managed by Step Up For Students.
Idaho:
Idaho Education News: Chris Cargill: Idaho wraps up a monumentally successful legislative session
https://www.idahoednews.org/voices/idaho-wraps-up-a-monumentally-successful-legislative-session/
The 2025 legislative session may go down as one of Idaho’s most significant. Lawmakers did the hard work to provide additional tax relief and increase education choice. Now, taxpayers and students can reap the rewards. . . . After much public testimony and input, both chambers passed and the Governor signed the legislation, which provides a $5,000 tax credit to qualifying families for educational expenses, including private school tuition. Special needs students can qualify for a $7,500 tax credit. This important education policy change, a recommendation MSPC made based on years of research, was sponsored by Senators Lori Den Hartog and Scott Grow, and Representatives Wendy Horman and Jason Monks. Idaho now joins the dozens of other states with expanded choice options.
Illinois:
LifeSiteNews: Black Democrats slam Illinois bill allowing government to interrogate homeschoolers
A Democrat-backed bill that would allow Illinois public school officials to interrogate homeschooling parents about lesson plans is facing opposition from a core constituency – black Democrats. House Bill 2827 would massively expand the power of public school officials to oversee homeschoolers within their district. Critics warn the legislation could lead to mandated shots as well as other heavy-handed state involvement. Public backlash against the bill has dwarfed supporters of it – about 42,000 people have filed witness slips opposing the bill, while only 1,000 have filed public support for it.
Missouri:
Southeast Missourian: Scott Fitzpatrick: Educating kids should be Missouri's top priority
Missouri State Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick advocates for prioritizing education by expanding school choice. Supporting Governor Mike Kehoe's proposal, he highlights the need for diverse educational options to better serve all students. . . . It was my honor to stand up MO Scholars for Missourians who need more options for their kids. Governor Kehoe’s proposal to supercharge school choice with an investment from the state is on the mark. His goal to make a meaningful change by delivering school choice for Missouri students and families is one we all can and should get behind. Educating our kids should be our number one priority, let’s empower their parents and get the job done by any means necessary.
North Dakota:
Grand Forks Herald: Grant Coursey: Public education faces turning point as North Dakota House OKs charter schools
The North Dakota House of Representatives voted on Tuesday, April 8, to allow charter schools in the state for the first time. Senate Bill 2241 is part of a broader focus on school choice being pushed in the session, with both the governor and Legislature calling it a priority. . . . The bill’s carrier Rep. Dori Hauck, R-Hebron, described charter schools as public schools that are held to the same academic and financial standards as other public schools but provide a “great deal” more flexibility to reach academic expectations.
Pennsylvania:
American Federation for Children Growth Fund: New Polling Shows Widespread Support for School Choice in Pennsylvania
https://bit.ly/4jpqgQj
Newly analyzed polling shows Pennsylvanians overwhelmingly support school choice across political, geographic, and demographic categories. The poll, conducted by Ragnar Research Partners from March 15-17, included live interviews with 800 likely voters across the Keystone State. Overall, 71% of respondents support the concept of school choice, and 70% support a Pennsylvania bill to expand school choice through scholarships. Support for school choice as a concept is strong across party lines, including:
84% of Republicans
79% of Independents
56% of Democrats
Statement from Tommy Schultz, CEO, American Federation for Children Growth Fund: "Pennsylvania was once a national leader in the school choice movement, but neighboring states have now taken the ball and are running with it. These polling results are crystal clear – Pennsylvania voters want expanded school choice. Educational freedom for families continues to receive overwhelming support across political, geographic, and demographic categories.”
Texas:
Fort Worth Star-Telegram: Jon Lineberger: I’ve seen school choice work for poor Texas kids. It’ll boost public schools, too
https://www.star-telegram.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/other-voices/article303777826.html
Texas lawmakers are advancing bills to create a state education savings account program. While such accounts, known as ESAs, would be new to Texas, a private scholarship program that helps low-income students access alternatives to public schools has already been tried and tested with outstanding results. ACE Scholarships Texas, a nonprofit group, has delivered close to 8,000 private scholarships to low-income families across the state since 2017. As its president, I’ve witnessed firsthand the challenges Texas families face in securing a quality education for their children.
KAUZ: Cecil Witherspoon: Governor Abbott speaks on school choice [Video]
https://www.newschannel6now.com/2025/04/09/governor-abbott-speaks-school-choice-potential-thc-ban/
Texas Governor Greg Abbott joined News Channel 6’s 5 p.m. newscast to talk with anchor Alyssa Osterdock about Texas school choice and a potential THC ban making its way through the Texas Legislature.
Be the first to know, sign up for the AFC School Choice Clips to ensure they hit your inbox before we publish here.
