Educational Choice for Children Act Moves Forward in Congress

One Small Step for School Choice, One Giant Leap for Freedom

​On Wednesday, the House Ways and Means Committee took a big step forward in expanding school choice nationwide by marking up and passing the Educational Choice for Children Act by a vote of 23-16. This is the furthest a school choice measure has ever advanced in Congress. With strong support from the House majority, this bill has a promising chance of passing the Senate next year, potentially becoming a landmark in the movement for educational freedom.
 
The Educational Choice for Children Act aims to provide tax credits for charitable donations to Scholarship Granting Organizations (SGOs) that support needy children. These scholarships can be used for private or religious schools, homeschooling, and other non-public educational options. The legislation includes express protections for religious schools, ensuring that parents can choose a learning environment consistent with their beliefs without fear of government interference.
 
Notably, the bill includes safeguards to prevent federal, state, or local government entities from exerting control over private or religious schools. It also prohibits discrimination against educational institutions based on their religious character, providing a robust defense of religious freedom in education. This bill advances the fundamental rights guaranteed by the First Amendment, reinforcing the right of parents and families to freely exercise religious belief.
 
Rep. Adrian Smith (R-NE) said during the hearing, “The credit will create a new pathway to fund scholarships and open new opportunities for countless families to have a say in where they want to send their children to school and tailor their education to their specific needs.”
 
With a quarter of all states now having comprehensive or universal school choice policies, this movement is spreading across the country like a prairie fire. Protect The 1st has been hard at work alongside allies, coalition partners, and leaders on Capitol Hill to promote this legislation in Washington, D.C., as well as the states. We support the national, bipartisan movement in favor of school choice because the ability to choose a school that aligns with one’s values – whether secular or religious – is one of the most profound expressions of the First Amendment we can make.
 
If passed, the bill would pave the way for millions of students to access better educational opportunities that align with their values and needs. As Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC), a key proponent of the bill, declared that school choice is “a civil rights issue,” giving parents the freedom to choose the best education for their children, regardless of their socioeconomic status.
 
With the growing support for school choice, this bill can be a historic step toward expanding educational freedom in the United States. It reflects a commitment to empowering parents and enhancing educational options for all children, reaffirming the importance of the First Amendment in safeguarding individual rights in education.
 
The path forward remains challenging, but the momentum behind this bill is unmistakable.