East Michigan News

Congressman John Moolenaar and Senator Tim Scott have introduced a resolution in the House and Senate, respectively, to recognize January 21 - January 27, 2024, as National School Choice Week. Both Moolenaar and Scott are co-chairs of the Congressional School Choice Caucus.

In a statement, Congressman Moolenaar emphasized the importance of giving students and parents the ability to choose the best education available to them. He expressed concern over the low test scores in reading and math, stating that some students are trapped in a failing system. Moolenaar said, "America’s students must be able to pursue the educational opportunities that are best for them."

Senator Scott echoed these sentiments, noting that it is unacceptable that millions of children in the United States still lack access to quality education based on their zip code. He emphasized the need to transform the nation's education system and ensure that every child has access to a quality education. According to Scott, "Every child has access to a quality education must be our call to action every single day."

The resolution introduced by Congressman Moolenaar and Senator Scott has garnered support from a large number of their colleagues. In the House, Representative Virginia Foxx, chairwoman of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, joined Moolenaar in introducing the resolution. Additionally, several other representatives from different states have shown their support.

Similarly, in the Senate, the resolution has been cosponsored by various senators from different states, including Tom Cotton, Ron Johnson, Marco Rubio, and Mitt Romney, among others.

The resolution recognizes the importance of providing a diversity of choices in K-12 education, empowering parents to select education environments that meet the individual needs and strengths of their children. It acknowledges the availability of high-quality education environments in the United States, including traditional public schools, public charter schools, public magnet schools, private schools, online academies, and homeschooling.

The resolution also emphasizes the role of talented teachers and school leaders in preparing children to achieve their dreams. It acknowledges that more families than ever before actively choose the best education for their children and aims to raise public awareness of the benefits of proactively choosing challenging, motivating, and effective education environments.

As part of the National School Choice Week, the resolution encourages parents to learn more about the education options available to them and urges the people of the United States to hold programs, events, and activities to raise public awareness of the benefits of opportunity in education.

With the introduction of this resolution, Congressman Moolenaar and Senator Scott are working towards ensuring that every child has access to a quality education and that parents have the freedom to choose the best education for their children.