John Boozman

01/26/2023 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 01/26/2023 17:52

Boozman, Cassidy and Colleagues Introduce Bill to Expand School Choice and Educational Opportunity

WASHINGTON-U.S Senators John Boozman (R-AR) and Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), along with over a dozen of their colleagues, introduced the Educational Choice for Children Act, legislation to expand education freedom and opportunity for students. Specifically, it provides a charitable donation incentive for individuals and businesses to fund scholarship awards for students to cover expenses related to K-12 public and private education.

"Parents deserve the ability to determine what learning environment best meets the needs of their children. I'm proud to support this legislation that puts students first and lets families take advantage of educational opportunities to help kids reach their full potential," Boozman said.

"Parents deserve the right to make the best educational decision for their child, regardless of income," saidDr. Cassidy. "Our bill empowers families to pick the school that best fits their children's needs."

The Educational Choice for Children Act:<_u13a_p>

  • Provides $10 billion in annual tax credits to be made available to taxpayers. Allotment of these credits to individuals would be administered by the Treasury Department.
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  • Sets a base amount for each state and distributes credits on a first-come, first-serve basis.
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  • Respects the principle of federalism by avoiding mandates on states, localities and school districts.
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  • Includes provisions that govern Scholarship Granting Organizations (SGOs), as SGOs are given the ability to determine the individual amount of scholarship awards.
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An estimated two million students in any elementary or secondary education setting, including homeschool, are eligible to receive a scholarship. Eligible use of scholarship awards includes tuition, fees, book supplies and equipment for the enrollment or attendance at an elementary or secondary school.

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Senators John Cornyn (R-TX), Steve Daines (R-MT), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), Roger Wicker (R-MS), John Barrasso (R-WY), Tim Scott (R-SC), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Mike Braun (R-IN), Rick Scott (R-FL), Todd Young (R-IN), Josh Hawley (R-MO), Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Katie Britt (R-AL) have cosponsored the measure.

Companion legislation was introduced in the House of Representatives by Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE-03).

The Educational Choice for Children Act has received the endorsement of the Invest in Education Coalition, American Federation for Children, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Heritage Action, Home School Legal Defense Association, Agudath Israel, Orthodox Union, Association of Christian Schools International, CAPE, Excel in Education and former U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos.