School Choice Week: Alabama leaders promise to ‘continue the fight’

Political leaders across the state are taking the opportunity to push for more educational freedom during this year’s National School Choice Week.

“This upcoming legislative session, we will put power back in the hands of parents allowing them to choose the education path that will best help their child thrive,” Gov. Kay Ivey said.

I am proud to have proclaimed this week as Alabama School Choice Week.

This upcoming legislative session, we will put power back in the hands of parents allowing them to choose the education path that will best help their child thrive. #alpolitics pic.twitter.com/O8QXU3EopS

— Governor Kay Ivey (@GovernorKayIvey) January 21, 2024

Ivey also spoke at a rally held on the steps of the State Capitol in Montgomery Monday, laying out specifically what she would like a school choice bill to look like this upcoming session.

“In this upcoming legislative session, my top priority is ensuring [an] education savings account bill crosses the finish line,” she said. “This is key legislation that will empower Alabama students and parents. And I look forward to signing this landmark bill into law, granting parents more rights in the education of their children.”

I firmly support school choice.

Providing all children — no matter their zip code — with a solid foundation in education is critical to the future success of our state.

This morning, I joined students, parents and families to celebrate Alabama School Choice Week. #alpolitics pic.twitter.com/ni3rhCBmy3

— Governor Kay Ivey (@GovernorKayIvey) January 22, 2024

The governor’s statement seems to give some backing to a bill that will be introduced by State Rep. Ernie Yarbrough (R-Trinity), who also spoke at the rally Monday.

“Education is not the primary responsibility of the government,” Yarbrough said. “That is Marxism. It is a primary responsibility of the parents. If we have woke or underperforming educational realities existing today it’s because we the people have allowed the government to become the customer of education instead of the parents.”

U.S. Sen. Katie Britt (R-Montgomery) is also promoting School Choice Week, saying she will do whatever she can do help with this effort in Congress.

RELATED: Is real school choice finally coming to Alabama in 2024?

“School choice means educational freedom,” Britt said. “It empowers families to make important decisions that help their children grow, achieve, and secure a bright future. Every student – and every family’s situation – is unique. There is no one-size-fits-all answer to what works best for every student’s education. For some, it’s their traditional local public school. For others, it’s a public magnet school, a charter school, a vocational school, a private school, a parochial school, a homeschool, or maybe it’s a hybrid option.”

The senator believes giving parents more control over their children’s education is the best way to reform education in Alabama and across the country.

“This week, let’s recommit to putting parents back in the driver’s seat so that they are empowered to make the best decisions for their own child’s education,” she argued. “I will continue to fight for educational freedom and opportunity for each and every child across Alabama and our nation, so that they can live their American Dream.”

This National #SchoolChoiceWeek, I'm proud to join families across America in celebrating educational freedom. As a nation, let’s recommit to putting parents back in the driver’s seat so that they are empowered to make the best decisions for their own child’s education. pic.twitter.com/Cq2MmlEmPJ

— Senator Katie Boyd Britt (@SenKatieBritt) January 22, 2024

U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) agrees with his Senate colleague saying, “School choice empowers parents, not the government, to determine their kid’s educational future.”

This week, I’m proud to celebrate National #SchoolChoiceWeek.

School choice empowers parents, not the government, to determine their kid’s educational future. pic.twitter.com/jAh86Z7b5F

— Coach Tommy Tuberville (@SenTuberville) January 21, 2024

Yaffee is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts “The Yaffee Program” weekdays 9-11 a.m. on WVNN. You can follow him on Twitter @Yaffee