Arizona’s Empowerment Scholarship Accounts (ESAs) program, designed to provide school choice for students, has faced criticism regarding its impact on state budgets. However, data shows that ESAs have actually led to cost savings, contradicting claims that they would bankrupt the state. This article analyzes the budgetary effects of ESAs and debunks common misconceptions surrounding their financial implications.
Beyoncé’s financial support for Vice President Kamala Harris highlights a critical issue in the 2024 election: school choice. While Beyoncé supports Harris, her husband, Jay-Z, advocates for school vouchers in Pennsylvania, a key battleground state. This creates a dilemma for Harris, who has remained largely silent on the issue, as it divides the Democratic Party and particularly the Black community.
The National Education Association (NEA), the nation’s largest teachers union, finds itself facing a strike from its own staff union, the National Education Association Staff Organization (NEASO). This internal conflict comes amidst a backdrop of ongoing teacher strikes across the country, leaving students without education and parents frustrated. The NEASO accuses the NEA of wage theft, outsourcing, and abandoning union values. Meanwhile, the NEA defends its actions and criticizes the NEASO for spreading misinformation. The situation highlights the internal power struggles within the NEA and the broader impact of union actions on students and their education.
Eleven states have enacted universal school choice policies since 2021, with momentum continuing into 2023. Alabama, Georgia, and Wyoming recently passed significant school choice legislation, while Louisiana’s House overwhelmingly approved a universal school choice bill. This movement is driven by parents seeking more control over their children’s education, fueled by concerns over leftist indoctrination and dissatisfaction with remote learning during the pandemic.
Remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic caused significant academic damage to children, with some districts experiencing learning losses of more than half a grade level in math. Public schools were partially to blame for this, as they forced all students to learn remotely, regardless of their individual needs. Families with the means opted for private schools, which mostly remained open and experienced less learning loss. The pandemic has also led to an increase in school choice programs in over 20 states, allowing more families to access in-person instruction.
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee has acknowledged that his proposal for universal school vouchers will not pass this legislative session, due to divisions within the Republican-dominated General Assembly. Despite initial support, rural GOP lawmakers expressed concerns over losing limited public school funding in their districts, leading to a stalemate. Governor Lee vowed to renew the school voucher discussions during the next legislative session, but it remains uncertain whether it will succeed given upcoming retirements and election challenges faced by some members.
