Today, the Idaho Senate Education committee passed SB 1038 - a bill that would create universal Education Savings Accounts (ESA's). The vote was 6-3. The bill now heads to the floor.
We previously analyzed the bill, introduced by Senator Tammy Nichols, here. Education choice is a hot topic in the legislature of Idaho. About 100 people showed up to testify on the bill. It took two days to get through all of the testimony, and some people had to cut their remarks to just one minute.
Several of the legislators on the committee invited Mountain States Policy Center to testify on the proposal. Here are my written comments (not all were given in person because of time constraints):
CHAIRMAN LENT, MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE…
I’M CHRIS CARGILL, THE PRESIDENT OF THE MOUNTAIN STATES POLICY CENTER.
THANK YOU FOR THE INVITATION TO TESTIFY THIS AFTERNOON.
MOUNTAIN STATES POLICY CENTER IS THE STATE’S NEWEST FREE MARKET THINK TANK.
WHILE WE DON’T OFFICIALLY ENDORSE OR OPPOSE ANY LEGISLATION, I DO WANT TO TELL YOU THAT THE BILL THAT IS BEFORE YOU TODAY – SENATE BILL 1038 – FOLLOWS MANY OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS WE HAVE MADE REGARDING EDUCATION CHOICE.
WE HAVE ALWAYS TAKEN A LOOK AT THIS ISSUE FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF WHAT CAN IMPROVE EDUCATION OUTCOMES FOR CHILDREN.
THE MONEY BELONGS TO THEIR EDUCATION. IT DOESN’T BELONG TO ANY ADMINISTRATOR OR UNION.
AS WE’VE WATCHED WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN OTHER STATES, WE CREATED AN EDUCATION CHOICE CHECKLIST TO DETERMINE WHAT WAS MOST IMPORTANT WHEN IT COMES TO ADOPTING THIS POLICY. THE LIST INCLUDES:
FLEXIBILITY
AVOIDING CLASS WARFARE
AVOIDING ENROLLMENT CAPS
AVOIDING PRIOR-YEAR SCHOOL REQUIREMENTS
OVERSIGHT AND ACCOUNTABILITY
ALLOWING FUNDS TO ROLL OVER
AND
NEVER ENCROACHING ON RELIGIOUS FREEDOM.
WE WERE DELIGHTED TO SEE SO MUCH OF THAT CHECKLIST REFLECTED IN THIS PARTICULAR BILL.
THE VAST MAJORITY OF EDUCATION CHOICE STUDIES SHOW A POSITIVE IMPACT, NOT ONLY FOR STUDENTS WHO PARTICIPATE, BUT THOSE WHO STAY IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS AS WELL.
EDUCATION CHOICE IS NOT ABOUT CLOSING PUBLIC SCHOOLS. PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE PART OF EDUCATION CHOICE.
IN FACT, EDUCATION CHOICE WILL MAKE PUBLIC SCHOOLS BETTER AND WILL INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF MONEY WE’RE SPENDING PER STUDENT, PER YEAR. IT COULD ALSO HELP EASE OVERCROWDING.
THIS ISN’T ABOUT HELPING RICH FAMILIES. STATISTICS FROM THE RESEARCH SHOWS ROUGHLY HALF OF THE ARIZONA PARTICIPANTS HAVE NEVER ATTENDED A PRIVATE SCHOOL BEFORE.
FROM A BEST PRACTICES PERSPECTIVE, WE WOULD ALSO RECOMMEND A TARGETED ESA PROGRAM SPECIFICALLY FOR SPECIAL NEEDS KIDS WHO MAY STAY IN THEIR PUBLIC SCHOOL.
IN CLOSING, LET ME JUST SPEAK PERSONALLY.
A LOT HAS BEEN SAID ABOUT SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN.
I HAVE A SPECIAL NEEDS SON. HE MEANS THE WORLD TO ME.
HE NEEDS EXTRA HELP OUTSIDE THE TYPICAL CLASSROOM SETTING. LUCKILY, MY WIFE AND I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO AFFORD TO GET HIM THAT HELP.
BUT WHAT ABOUT THE OTHER FAMILIES WHO CAN’T AFFORD IT?
WHETHER ITS THIS PROPOSAL OR ANOTHER, WE ALWAYS URGE POLICYMAKERS TO NOT LET PERFECT BE THE ENEMY OF THE GOOD.
OUR KIDS DON’T HAVE A UNION. THEY DON’T HAVE A SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP. ALL THEY HAVE IS THEIR PARENTS, AND YOU.
WE’RE THANKFUL FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION OF THIS POLICY.
