K-12 Education Reform

A good primary education is the cornerstone of the American Dream: it prepares us for economic and personal success and facilitates our pursuit of happiness.

But too often the history of America’s public school system has been a story of dashed hopes, deferred dreams, and unfulfilled promises.

Hopes of parents—that the local school system would prepare their kids to climb higher than they ever could.

Dreams of students—that their teachers would inspire and believe in them.

And promises of policymakers—that more money would fix a fundamentally broken system.

What occurs in public school classrooms around the country—what teachers teach and how they teach it—is the result of a long, convoluted, bureaucratic chain of command that zigzags its way from Washington to local school districts, but never includes parents.

First, Congress passes legislation authorizing federal bureaucrats to establish rules, regulations, and standards with which states must comply in order to receive federal education funds.

Next, state officials refine—or in some cases distort—these Washington directives, writing narrower rules for their school districts, which then establish the specific policies for individual schools.

At no point in this decision-making process are parents consulted.

Instead, they are left with a “take it or leave it” choice: either accept the education offered at the local public school—no matter how bad it may be—or buy a better alternative, by moving closer to a better school or paying private school tuition. 

For America’s most affluent families, this is no big deal—they can afford private schools and so have the power to choose the school that is best for their children. For everyone else, it precludes parents from making choices about their children’s education.

That is why Sen. Lee supports the Enhancing Educational Opportunities for All Act which would give parents more power to invest in their child’s education and to choose what school best meets their needs.

How it Works

The EEOA would expand school choice to all parents, regardless of socio-economic status or zip code, by allowing federal “Title I” K-12 support funds to follow low-income students to any public or private school of their choice.

It would also remove the contribution limits on Coverdell education savings accounts and allow “529” account funds to cover K-12 education expenses. 

And it would give working parents more opportunities to invest in a variety of learning services and products outside the classroom, such as tutoring, online courses and textbooks. 

The problem facing our public school system today is not about a lack of money—we have nearly tripled our investments in elementary and secondary students since 1970. The problem is dysfunctional government policy—however well intentioned—and a lack of accountability.

We can and we must do better.