Joel Hefley: “children should not be trapped in a failing school where they cannot possibly reach their fullest educational potential.…”

“children should not be trapped in a failing school where they cannot possibly reach their fullest educational potential. That is why H.R. 1 includes a school choice program that enables parents to send their children to another school, public or private, after 3 years of chronic failure. Public support for school choice is strong, especially among African Americans. A survey conducted in 1999 by the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies found that approximately 60 percent of African Americans favored school choice. According to a bipartisan poll for the National Education Association conducted in February, 63 percent of Americans say they support President Bush's approach to school choice. Moreover, school choice programs in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Florida have met with significant success. Howard University's Jay P. Greene found that since Florida's A-Plus school choice program began, student test scores have improved across the board. There is evidence that the A-Plus program has compelled failing schools in Florida, now under the threat of losing their students, to improve performance. It is our responsibility to empower parents to make the right decision for their children's future.”