House Education and the Workforce Committee Holds Voucher Hearing

On Tuesday, the House Education and the Workforce Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education held a hearing, “School Choice: Expanding Educational Freedom for All.” 

In his opening statement, Subcommittee Chair Aaron Bean (R-FL) remarked, “School choice provides the best possible solution on both fronts. It gives parents the option to choose a traditional public, private, charter, magnet, or home school for their child. It allows parents to take an active role in their child's education and gives them the flexibility that they need to ensure their child's success.”  

In contrast, Ranking Member Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) described vouchers as the privatization of education, disguised by the term “school choice,” and that the legacy of these policies has left students of color and students from low income families underfunded and with fewer resources. 

Panel witnesses spoke in favor of, and opposition of, vouchers. Dr. Lindsey Burke, Director of the Center for Education Policy at the Heritage Foundation, who spoke in favor of vouchers, recommended that Congress “make Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act funding portable, following students to learning environments of choice.” Witness  Derek W. Black, a Professor of Law and the Director of the Constitutional Law Center at the University of South Carolina School of Law spoke in opposition to vouchers, and noted that less than 25% of state voucher programs prohibit discrimination based on disability, and rather, “some states require students with disabilities to waive their federal disability rights as a condition of participation in the state’s private school tuition program.” 

The member discussion with witnesses divided on party lines- with Republicans speaking about the benefits of vouchers and Democrats speaking in opposition. CEC has a long history of opposition to public funds being spent on voucher programs because of their impact on students with disabilities as private schools are within their rights to deny admission, push them out because of their disabilities, may lack individualized supports, and the forfeiture of civil rights protections afforded under IDEA. 

Access a recording of the proceedings here.

View CEC’s position statement on vouchers here.