House Hearing Focuses on Expanding School Choice to Four-Year College Degrees

On Wednesday, the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Energy Policy, and Regulatory Affairs held a hearing, “Opening Doors to Opportunity: The Promise of Expanded School Choice and Alternatives to Four-Year College Degrees.” Subcommittee Chairman Eric Burlison (R-MO) asserted that the prime metric of education success is college entry, and emphasized alternatives to four-year colleges, including trade schools. He added that school choice is vital to the economy and “should be as American as apple pie.” Ranking Member Maxwell Frost (D-FL) countered that there is a “problem of opportunity” for communities of color, working-class families, rural families traditionally excluded from quality education and postsecondary opportunities. Of school choice, he called it “government taxpayer money to subsidize private schools,” which drains resources from the public schools that serve 90% of students in this nation. He added that private schools “don’t even have basic protections for students with disabilities. School choice was discussed at length. 

Democratic Members voiced concern over diverting public education funds to private schools via vouchers, and further argued that it harms public schools and limits access for students with disabilities. Republicans countered that public education investments have yielded poor results and advocated for school choice to improve outcomes. Throughout the hearing, several Members and witnesses stressed the declining value of four-year degrees and called for greater access to skilled trades, apprenticeships, and hands-on learning. Witnesses highlighted free programs that connect students to careers through internships and mentorships.

Watch the hearing here.