A former school principal, Mandy Davis, has transformed herself into a staunch advocate for pro-school choice policies after leaving her career to homeschool her children. Davis’s dedication to the cause has caught the attention of Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., who revealed in a recent interview with Digital that he has been discussing the issue of school choice and parental rights with former President Trump. Tuberville emphasized that school choice is a critical issue in this year’s presidential election, with public schools failing to meet the needs of students despite substantial funding.
During a roundtable discussion on National School Choice Week, Tuberville and GOP Senators Katie Britt of Alabama, Roger Marshall of Kansas, Ted Budd of North Carolina, and Eric Schmitt of Missouri engaged in conversations about topics such as ethnic studies, critical race theory (CRT), gendered sports, and the decline in test scores due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The roundtable aimed to shed light on the importance of expanding school choice options for families and explore avenues at the state level to achieve this, including school voucher programs, tax-credit scholarship programs, and education savings accounts.
Tuberville criticized the current allocation of federal funding for public schools, arguing that it primarily benefits buildings and teachers’ unions rather than students’ education. In the 2019-2020 school year alone, the United States spent a staggering $870 billion on public elementary and secondary schools. Tuberville stressed that parents should have more control over their children’s education and expressed concerns that schools are prioritizing a social justice agenda over core subjects like reading, science, and history.
Sonja Shaw, the president of Chino Valley Unified School Board in Southern California and a mother of three, echoed Tuberville’s sentiments. Shaw believes that school choice will be a significant factor for parents when casting their votes this year, especially considering the ongoing controversy surrounding critical race theory. She emphasized the need for increased awareness and parental involvement to combat such issues.
California has emerged as a battleground state in the fight for parental rights and school choice, serving as a blueprint for other states. The state’s policies, such as the parental notification policy for transgender identification disclosure, have faced backlash from both parents and politicians. California Attorney General Rob Bonta launched an investigation into the Chino Valley Unified School District for possible legal violations after they implemented the policy. Additionally, Governor Gavin Newsom threatened to sue another Southern California school district for not including a social studies course featuring controversial gay rights activist Harvey Milk.
The push for stronger parental rights policies in public schools extends beyond California, with several bills introduced in states like Arizona, Indiana, and Arkansas. The popularity of school choice is also on the rise, as evidenced by the record-breaking 14,090 scholarships awarded to K-12 children across the country through ACE Scholarships’ program for the upcoming school year. Republican governors have played a significant role in advancing universal school choice legislation, a cause championed by former President Trump, who once referred to it as the civil rights issue of our time and signed an executive order on Expanding Educational Opportunity Through School Choice.
The issue of school choice has gained momentum, with advocates like Mandy Davis, Sen. Tommy Tuberville, and GOP senators rallying behind the cause. As the 2024 presidential campaign approaches, it is evident that school choice will continue to be a critical topic that resonates with parents nationwide.
