Parents should be free to choose their child's educational experience: VP Pence
'I was with school choice before it was cool,' Pence said in Pennsylvania on Wednesday
Vice President Mike Pence was in Pennsylvania Wednesday advocating for the Trump administration’s school choice program – after the president addressed the topic during his State of the Union address Tuesday night.
Standing before a group of students – some of whom had benefited from expanded educational opportunities in the state – Pence said he supports the policy so that “every American can live the American dream.”
“Outcomes improve, kids do better. In fact, education across the board improves in public and private education,” Pence said of the policy.
TRUMP CRITICIZES 'FAILING GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS' AS HE PUSHES SCHOOL CHOICE
Pennsylvania has a school choice program, which would be expanded to one million more children under the White House proposal.
However, during an interview with "Fox & Friends" on Wednesday, Pence mentioned that the Pennsylvania governor recently vetoed a bill that would have expanded educational opportunities.
The administration has proposed giving $5 billion worth of annual tax credits to encourage individuals and businesses to donate to nonprofit scholarship funds. Those funds would be used for education opportunities like private, parochial and religious schools, apprenticeships, technical training and certification.
In D.C., which Pence noted is the home of the only federally funded voucher program, enrollment has increased by as much as 50 percent.
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Republican Texas Sen. Ted Cruz introduced a bill – with the support of Education Secretary Betsey DeVos – known as the Education Freedom Scholarships and Opportunity Act – which would give freedom to states to decide how to set up a program that fits their residents’ needs. States would be able to decide, for example, which students would be eligible for scholarships. State participation would be optional.
The goal of the program would be to give every student access to similar educational opportunities, despite where they live or their family’s income. So far, 18 states have adopted voucher programs like the one proposed.
Trump on Tuesday night framed the plan as a way to level the playing field for American students from different parts of the country.
“The next step forward in building an inclusive society is making sure that every young American gets a great education and the opportunity to achieve the American Dream,” Trump said. “Yet, for too long, countless American children have been trapped in failing government schools.”
The approach – which once enjoyed support from Democrats – no longer does. Democratic candidates have been vying for support among unions – including the teachers’ unions – which have often put their policies in opposition with the Trump administration’s school choice proposal.