The time is now to adopt bold, innovative policies that empower parents and recognize the unique needs of all students.
ALEC CEO Lisa B. Nelson co-authored an op-ed with economist Stephen Moore of the Committee to Unleash Prosperity in National Review, advocating for educational freedom and empowering parents in Texas. He promoted policies that prioritized students.
A staggering 65 percent of Fort Worth’s third- through eighth-graders fail to meet grade-level minimum standards in core subjects such as reading, math, and science. This is nothing short of an educational disaster. Fort Worth Mayor Matty Parker captured this urgency by saying, “Now is the time to set ambitious goals, develop a strategic plan for academic excellence, and ensure every tax dollar is spent wisely.” “We need visionary, student-centered leadership.” We couldn’t agree more.
Even more troubling, this failure rate represents a 1 percentage point drop in proficiency compared to the previous year, highlighting an alarming trend in student achievement and encouraging local leaders to They are increasing their vigilance. Even in the highest-performing city council district (10th District), only 49 percent of students met basic grade-level academic standards.
In a letter to school board members, Mayor Parker cited Fort Worth’s consistent poor performance compared to other major school districts in Texas. For example, students in Fort Worth are 11 points behind students in Dallas, 14 points behind students in Houston, and 18 points behind students in Brownsville. These numbers underscore the need to rethink our approach to education and adopt bold, innovative policies that empower parents and recognize the unique needs of all students.
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It is important to remember that educational freedom is not a partisan issue. Nationally, 66% of Democrats, 80% of Republicans, and 69% of independents support educational freedom. In Louisiana, six Democratic House members voted to support the state’s new universal education freedom program. Additionally, lawmakers in Georgia, North Carolina, and California recently switched parties over their support for educational freedom.
Texas is home to more than 5 million K-12 students, and legislators not only put students first, but also positioned Texas as a national leader on behalf of students and families to create America’s largest educational freedom initiative. We have the opportunity to create a program. The time has come for universal educational freedom in isolated states.
Read the full editorial.
