Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, speaks on behalf of school choice at a rally Wednesday morning. (Joshua Rosenblat/MNS)
WASHINGTON — A coalition of Republican lawmakers made clear Wednesday their plans to reform the nation’s education system far surpass an overhaul of traditional public schools.
“We’re here today to send a message to Capitol Hill,” Indiana Rep. Luke Messer said at an event supporting school choice attended by hundreds of Washington-area charter and private school students.
House Speaker John Boehner delivered the event’s keynote address and was many high-profile GOP lawmakers at the rally.
A co-author of “No Child Left Behind,” which has been up for reauthorization since 2007 and is currently facing massive restructuring, Boehner and Republicans made it a point this week to rekindle support for school choice initiatives, even with much of Congress’ focus placed on public education.
“The education establishment a long time ago decided that the answer to every problem when it comes to school is more money and more government control. No matter how much money we poured into that hole. Things just got worse,” Boehner said after fighting back tears when he recounted what attending a private Catholic school as a child meant to him.
With Republicans in control of Congress, conservative education reformers have an opportunity to reshape federal oversight for education.
But even with support from the conservative base, it seems unlikely for programs such as private school vouchers and scholarships to work their way into the restructured bill.
Sen. Lamar Alexander, chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, wrote a new “No Child” discussion draft that includes a provision that would allow federal funding to move with a low-income student from one public school to another. The draft does not address the issue of private school choice.
Instead, pro-school choice legislation such as South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott’s, which Alexander cosponsored when the legislation was reintroduced Tuesday, could be submitted as separate bills.
Similarly, Louisiana Rep. Steve Scalise said at the event, “next month we’re going to be introducing legislation to expand charter opportunities all across the country.”
Bills like these may allow new national education legislation to remain neutral on the politically divisive issue of school choice, which could make it easier to pass through Congress.
Regardless of the political ramifications of school choice legislation, Republicans continue to place school choice at the forefront of conservative education agendas.
“School choice is the civil rights issue of the 21st century,” Texas Sen. Ted Cruz said. “It shouldn’t matter what your race or ethnicity or your zip code is. Every single child deserves an opportunity to achieve the very best. That’s what school choice is all about.”
