Kelly and Colleagues Introduce Bill to Expand School Choice & Educational Opportunity

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representative Mike Kelly (R-PA), alongside colleagues Rep. Adrian Smith (R-NE), Rep. Burgess Owens (R-UT), and Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA) introduced the Educational Choice for Children Act, bicameral legislation to expand education freedom and opportunity for students. Specifically, it provides a charitable donation incentive for individuals and businesses to fund scholarship awards for students to cover expenses related to K-12 public and private education.

“Parents should have a greater say in their child’s education, and this bill does just that,” Rep. Kelly said. “Our children make up about 25 percent of the U.S. population, but they are 100 percent of our future. We must give parents and children every opportunity to pursue the education that is best for them and that puts them on the best path forward from day one. Further, I’m honored to continue the legacy of our late colleague, Indiana Rep. Jackie Walorski, who made education and children’s issues a cornerstone of her legislative work.”

“This National School Choice Week, the House and Senate have renewed our commitment to parental empowerment and education freedom with this bill,” said Rep. Smith. “Parents – not government – should always have the final say in what kind of education their child receives, no matter where they live or their socioeconomic status. The late Rep. Jackie Walorski fought tirelessly for families to have this freedom, and it is an honor to continue her work on this issue. I also thank my colleagues in the House and Senate for their work on this important piece of legislation.”

“Parents deserve the right to make the best educational decision for their child, regardless of income,” said Dr. Cassidy. “Our bill empowers families to pick the school that best fits their children’s needs.”

"In America, a child’s race, income, or zip code should never determine the quality of their education," said Rep. Owens. "School choice works because it puts students over systems and empowers parents to choose the academic options that best fit their child's unique needs. I am proud to help my colleagues reintroduce the Educational Choice for Children Act to continue giving millions of students a fair shot at the American Dream."

“As policymakers, we should pave the way for students to succeed—not hold them back,” said Education and the Workforce Committee Chairwoman Foxx. “This legislation is an important tool that will help give all students the opportunity to receive an education that will allow them to thrive. I am proud to be an original cosponsor of this bill; the more we can do to spread education freedom, the better.”

“Educational choice is a critical way to provide the best opportunities for our students, and this bill will allow families to determine the highest quality and most suitable education for their children,” Chair Stefanik said. “This legislation can equip students in rural communities with additional supports to supplement their learning in the local school, bringing new opportunities to families that have traditionally lacked educational options. I will continue to empower parents to be able to choose what is best for their children’s education, regardless of zip code.”

“Jackie Walorski was a great champion for school choice and empowering parents to make educational decisions that work best for their families,” said Congressman Yakym. “I look forward to continuing her legacy of fighting to expanding education opportunity and making sure all of America’s children are given the best chance to succeed in school.”

The Educational Choice for Children Act:

• Provides $10 billion in annual tax credits to be made available to taxpayers. Allotment of these credits to individuals would be administered by the Treasury Department.
• A base amount will be set for each state and then the credits are distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis.
• Uses a limited government approach with respect to federalism, thus avoiding mandates on states, localities, and school districts.
• Includes provisions that govern Scholarship Granting Organizations (SGOs), as SGOs are given the ability to determine the individual amount of scholarship awards.

An estimated two million students in any elementary or secondary education setting, including homeschool, are eligible to receive a scholarship. Eligible use of scholarships awards includes tuition, fees, book supplies, and equipment for the enrollment or attendance at an elementary or secondary school.

The Educational Choice for Children Act has received the endorsement of the Invest in Education Coalition, American Federation for Children, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Heritage Action, Home School Legal Defense Association, Agudath Israel, Orthodox Union, Association of Christian Schools International, CAPE, Excel in Education, and former U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos.