Senator Scott Makes Push for School Choice, Files Resolution Supporting National School Choice Week

Washington, DC- U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-SC), a leading advocate for school choice in the United States Senate, yesterday filed a resolution supporting National School Choice Week. Senator Scott, a member of the Senate Education Committee, will also introduce his Creating Hope and Opportunity for Individuals and Communities through Education (CHOICE) Act later this month and host a significant event supporting school choice in early February (details to be released in the coming weeks).

“As someone who grew up in poverty and ignored the power of education for too long, I cannot overstate the importance of a quality education,” Senator Scott said. “It is absolutely critical that we ensure all of our kids in every community have access to the tools they need to succeed. That’s why my first actions in the new Congress seek to strengthen school choice, and I will continue to work with my colleagues on the education committee to reform and improve our education system.”

Senator Scott continued, “It is the parents, teachers and administrators in our communities, not bureaucrats in board rooms in Washington, who know what’s best for our kids. When parents have a choice, our kids have a chance.

Senators Lamar Alexander (R-TN), John Boozman (R-AR), John Cornyn (R-TX), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Michael Enzi (R-WY), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Rand Paul (R-KY), Marco Rubio (R-FL) and David Vitter (R-LA) have all signed on as original cosponsors of the resolution.

A summary of Senator Scott’s CHOICE Act, a key component of his Opportunity Agenda, can befound here. As recently published inThe Statenewspaper, “Sen. Scott’s proposal puts our students first and expands educational options for families.”

The full text of Senator Scott’s resolution is below:

Designating the week of January 25 through January 31, 2015, as “National School Choice Week”

Whereas providing a diversity of choices in K-12 education empowers parents to select education environments that meet the individual needs and strengths of their children;

Whereas the United States is home to high-quality K-12 education environments of all varieties, including traditional public schools, public charter schools, public magnet schools, private schools, online academies, and home schooling;

Whereas talented teachers and school leaders in all of these education environments are preparing children to achieve their dreams;

Whereas more families than ever before in the United States are actively choosing the best education for their children;

Whereas greater public awareness of the issue of parental choice in education can inform additional families about the benefits of proactively choosing challenging, motivating, and effective education environments for their children;

Whereas the process of parents choosing schools for their children is nonpolitical, nonpartisan, and deserving of the utmost respect; and

Whereas hundreds of organizations, more than 9,000 schools, and millions of individuals in the United States will celebrate the benefits of educational choice during the fifth annual National School Choice Week, which will be held the week of January 25 through January 31, 2015: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Senate –

(1) designates the week of January 25 through January 31, 2015, as ”National School Choice

(2) congratulates the students, parents, teachers, and school leaders from K-12 education environments of all varieties for their persistence, achievements, dedication, and contributions to society in the United States;

(3) encourages all parents, during National 2 School Choice Week, to learn more about the education options available to them; and

(4) encourages the people of the United States to hold appropriate programs, events, and activities during National School Choice Week to raise public awareness about the benefits of opportunity in education.