The Alarming Test Score Data Highlights the Urgent Need for Nationwide School Choice Legislation from Trump and Congress
The timing couldn’t be more opportune.
Each year, we observe Catholic Schools Week at the end of January, where families and communities across the country emphasize the significance of Catholic education.
This year, National School Choice Week coincides with Catholic Schools Week, highlighting the necessity of empowering parents and their children to explore educational options and increase school choice nationwide.
Additionally, recent data released by the National Assessment of Educational Progress underscores the urgency of expanding educational freedom to all states.
It is clear that school choice is crucial for enabling parents to enroll their children in the Catholic or other schools they prefer.
School choice means that families, irrespective of their financial situation or location, should have the opportunity to access high-quality schools that cater to their children’s academic needs while fostering the values and beliefs that matter most to them. For nearly 1.7 million children across the nation, that choice is a Catholic school.
However, this option is at risk for many families, especially as working- and middle-class parents face ongoing financial challenges.
For President Trump and the new Congress, now is the time to enact significant school choice legislation that will benefit families in all 50 states.
The Educational Choice for Children Act (ECCA), currently in Congress, represents the best opportunity to enhance and broaden educational access for families lacking the financial means to consider private or religious schooling — ultimately leading to a more equitable and just society.
The ECCA would introduce a federal income-tax credit designed to stimulate private charitable contributions to nonprofit scholarship granting organizations, which would provide scholarships for K-12 educational expenses, including private school tuition or supplementary educational services if students remain enrolled in district public schools.
This legislation is based on proven models from nearly half the states, demonstrating a successful approach.
For many parents, their local public school meets their children’s needs—may they thrive!
However, numerous other parents find that public schools fall short in adequately preparing their children academically, creating unsafe environments, or failing to honor their family’s values and religious freedoms.
This is why expanding education freedom through school choice is essential for enhancing education for all children, regardless of their school of attendance.
Indeed, research indicates that as school choice has evolved, students in traditional public schools have also experienced better academic results. School choice benefits all schools and all students!
I have had the privilege to work with elected officials from both sides of the aisle to meet the educational needs of children.
Thanks to President Trump’s guidance during the COVID crisis, independent and religious schools received additional federal aid to navigate those challenges. His support for parental choice has been a consistent element of his platform.
Funding for non-public schools was also included in the American Rescue Plan due to the efforts of President Joe Biden and Sen. Chuck Schumer.
While over two dozen states broadened school choice opportunities in the aftermath of the pandemic, significant educational options remain inaccessible for children in most regions—especially in the 18 states lacking laws to facilitate parental access to K-12 choices.
In New York, where school choice is unavailable, the New York City Department of Education allocates $38,000 annually for each public school student, whereas the average cost for Catholic elementary schools in the archdiocese is just over $10,000.
As test scores indicate, however, children in public schools are falling behind in reading and math.
Since his initial election in 2016, President Trump has been a fervent advocate for school choice.
As he embarks on his second term, he is uniquely positioned to become the unwavering supporter of school choice and provide educational freedom for millions of families seeking the most suitable K-12 education for their children.
A strong Educational Choice for Children Act would create opportunities for parents across every state to choose schools for their children, without federal interference in education policy or the imposition of new mandates upon states and schools.
Officials from both political parties should advocate for the ECCA, ensuring that families from low-income to middle-class backgrounds can access the same quality of education that wealthier families enjoy.
This approach would contribute to a stronger, more equitable education system—and a better America.
Cardinal Dolan is the archbishop of New York.
