Congressman Moolenaar, Senator Scott Introduce National School Choice Week Resolution

Congressman John Moolenaar, the co-chair of the Congressional School Choice Caucus, led 50 of his colleagues in introducing House Resolution 974, to recognize January 21 - January 27, 2024, as National School Choice Week. The resolution has also been introduced in the Senate by Senator Tim Scott (R-SC), the fellow co-chair of the Congressional School Choice Caucus.

“Students and their parents deserve the ability to choose the best education available to them. Unfortunately, some students are trapped in a failing system where test scores in reading and math have fallen to the lowest levels in decades. America’s students must be able to pursue the educational opportunities that are best for them. My colleagues and I are proud to stand with them in introducing this legislation recognizing parental rights and school choice,” said Congressman Moolenaar.

“It is unacceptable that today – in the United States of America – millions of kids who grew up just like I did still lack access to quality education simply because of their zip code,” said Senator Scott. “We cannot leave our kids’ education and the future of America’s children to chance. Instead, transforming our nation’s education system and ensuring every child has access to a quality education must be our call to action every single day.”

Moolenaar was joined in introducing his resolution by Representative Virginia Foxx (R-NC), the chairwoman of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce and Representatives Tim Walberg (R-MI), Russell Fry (R-SC), Michael Waltz (R-FL), Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R-OR), Kat Cammack (R-FL), Mike Kelly (R-PA), Randy Weber (R-TX), Anthony D'Esposito (R-NY), Rick Allen (R-GA), Neal Dunn (R-FL), Daniel Webster (R-FL), Julia Letlow (R-LA), Darrell Issa (R-CA), Debbie Lesko (R-AZ), Eric Burlison (R-MO), Andy Biggs (R-AZ), Tom Cole (R-OK), Scott Fitzgerald (R-WI), Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ), Byron Donalds (R-FL), Michelle Steel (R-FL), Mark Green (R-TN), Jeff Duncan (R-SC), Dan Meuser (R-PA), Rich McCormick (R-GA), Ralph Norman (R-SC), Ashley Hinson (R-AM), Dale Strong (R-AL), Kevin Hern (R-OK), Brandon Williams (R-NY), Jake LaTurner (R-KS), John Joyce (R-PA), Mike Lawler (R-NY), Keith Self (R-TX), Jack Bergman (R-MI), Dan Bishop (R-NC), Nancy Mace (R-SC), Kevin Kiley (R-CA), John James (R-MI), John Carter (R-TX), Diana Harshbarger (R-TN) Buddy Carter (R-GA), Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL), Adrian Smith (R-NE), Dan Newhouse (R-WA), Garret Graves (R-LA), Aaron Bean (R-FL), Doug Lamborn (R-CO), and Tim Burchett (R-TN).

In the Senate, the resolution is cosponsored by Senators Tom Cotton (R-AR), Ted Budd (R-NC), Ron Johnson (R-WI), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Rick Scott (R-FL), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), John Boozman (R-AR), Jim Risch (R-ID), Mitt Romney (R-UT), Katie Britt (R-AL), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Mike Braun (R-IN) and Mike Lee (R-UT).

Legislative text can be found below.

--------------

H. Res. 974

Expressing support for the designation of the week of January 21 through
January 27, 2024, as ‘‘National School Choice Week’’.

RESOLUTION

Expressing support for the designation of the week of January 21 through January 27, 2024, as ‘‘National School Choice Week’’.

Whereas providing a diversity of choices in K–12 education empowers parents to select education environments that meet the individual needs and strengths of their children;

Whereas high-quality K–12 education environments of all varieties are available in the United States, including traditional public schools, public charter schools, public magnet schools, private schools, online academies, and home schooling

Whereas talented teachers and school leaders in each of the education environments prepare children to achieve their dreams;

Whereas more families than ever before in the United States actively choose the best education for their children;

Whereas more public awareness of the issue of parental choice in education can inform additional families of the benefits of proactively choosing challenging, motivating, and effective education environments for their children;

Whereas the process by which parents choose schools for their children is nonpolitical, nonpartisan, and deserves the utmost respect; and

Whereas tens of thousands of events are planned to celebrate the benefits of educational choice during the 14th annual National School Choice Week, held the week of January 21 through January 27, 2024: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the House of Representatives—

     (1) supports the designation of ‘‘National School Choice Week’’;

     (2) congratulates students, parents, teachers, and school leaders from K-12 education environments of all varieties for their persistence, achievements, dedication, and contributions to society in the United States;

     (3) encourages all parents, during National School Choice Week, to learn more about the education options available to them;

     (4) encourages the people of the United States to hold appropriate programs, events, and activities during National School Choice Week to raise public awareness of the benefits of opportunity in education.