A Week of Success for School Freedom

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Here are the successes School Freedom has seen this past week. thanks to the tremendous work of Republican State Legislatures and Governors:

Kansas:

The Kansas House of Representatives narrowly passed the Sunflower Education Equity Act, which would create the state’s first educational savings accounts and give participating families $5,000 to spend on educational expenses of their choice per student. The bill passed the Senate last month and was later modified. Senate President Ty Masterson said he expects the legislation to pass again when it returns to the Senate. State Republicans are hopeful Governor Laura Kelly, a Democrat, will sign the bill into law, as it also includes raises for teachers and an additional $72 million for special education.

Florida:

The Florida Senate Appropriations Committee voted along party lines to send a bill creating universal school choice with no income restrictions to the full Senate floor. The House version of the bill (HB1) is also on its way to the floor, and lays out a $8,000 per student voucher, with larger vouchers for special education students. Florida Republicans have identified school choice and these bills as a top priority for their supermajority.

Kentucky:

A Kentucky House committee sent a bill to the full House that would allow Kentuckians to vote to create a new section of the Kentucky constitution authorizing the General Assembly to provide for the educational costs of students outside the public school system. If approved, the bill would put the amendment on the ballot in 2024. Polling has found nearly 75% of Republicans, 60% of independents, and 31% of Democrats would support such a school choice constitutional amendment.

Idaho:

The Idaho Senate Education Committee voted to send an education savings accounts proposal to the full Senate floor. The pilot program would create $12 million in tuition grants for up to 2,000 students, who would receive $6,000 each, prioritized based on their family’s income.

Texas:

Last Friday, Texas Senate Republicans unveiled their school choice proposal, which would create education savings accounts of up to $8,000 per student. To get rural Republicans — who have traditionally opposed school choice measures in Texas — on board, the bill’s funding mechanism would grow small public school district’s state funding even if students leave for private schools. Both Governor Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick have repeatedly emphasized school choice is a priority this legislative session.