Guest Column by Lauren Garcia,
Nebraska State Director, American Federation for Children
It’s only February, and 2023 has already become a banner year for school choice across the nation. Texas, Utah, and Iowa have all made big moves to empower more families with the ability to choose where to send their children to school.
Nebraska, which is one of only two states that has not passed a school choice program, is now closer than ever before.
LB753, introduced by school choice champion Senator Lou Ann Linehan on behalf of Governor Jim Pillen, would create a $25 million scholarship tax credit program to help more Nebraska parents afford the education that is best for their children. The bill, which has a total of 31 signed cosponsors, was voted out of the Revenue Committee (6-2) and is headed for debate by the full Legislature soon. Supporters of LB753 will certainly face strong opposition during floor debate, and in order to take a vote on the bill itself, we will need 33 votes to overcome the filibuster.
So, why the strong opposition to something as common sense as giving kids, especially those in low-income families, more options? Here are some common arguments we hear in opposition to school choice and LB753, as well as the truth of the matter.
Argument: “We already have school choice in Nebraska. A parent can choose any kind of school they want for their children.”
It’s true that parents who can afford private school for their children, or can buy a house in a better school district, have school choice. But for many families, this is just not a reality. True educational freedom means helping all families access the education that is best for their kids, not just those who can afford it.
Argument: “LB753 would drain money from public schools.”
This is simply not true.
LB753 would create tax credits for people or organizations who donate to a recognized scholarship granting organization (SGO). These SGOs then provide students with scholarships to attend the school of their choice. These are private dollars going to scholarship organizations which then award financial aid to families. These dollars do not come from the education budget that goes to fund public schools.
Tax credit scholarship programs across the country, in the aggregate, have been proven to save state governments millions—even billions—of dollars. When a student attends a nonpublic school using a tax credit scholarship, state governments do not have to pay the public school the full cost for providing an education for that student. And the cost to educate a child in a traditional district school is greater than the revenue a state foregoes through scholarship tax credit programs.
It’s no wonder that tax credit scholarship programs, for example, end up saving each participating state anywhere from $13 million to $120 million annually. So, not only do tax credit scholarships not harm public school funding, but they provide additional revenues that could be used to invest in kids in public school settings.
Argument: “Private schools don’t have accountability.”
All school choice programs have some level of administrative and financial accountability. And most programs have academic accountability.
Private schools in every state must comply with health and safety regulations as well as anti-discrimination laws. And in Nebraska, approved and accredited private schools have testing standards, health and safety standards, financial accountability standards, as well as having to follow other rules and regulations. Most notably, private schools are accountable to those who matter the most: parents.
Argument: “LB753 won’t actually help kids.”
Of all the misinformation surrounding school choice programs, this is the most troubling. It’s easy to forget, amidst all the politics and arguments, that this is about kids, first and foremost. Every Nebraska child should have access to a quality education, regardless of family income, ZIP code, learning style, or any limiting factor.
While private schools across the state already work hard to give families financial aid, we hear again and again, there just aren’t enough funds to help everyone. LB753 would generate more funds, providing life-changing opportunities for thousands of Nebraska families.
The Feb. 3 Revenue Committee hearing for LB753 included many powerful testimonies from students, parents, and educators who spoke to their personal experiences with private education and how they’ve benefited from having that opportunity.
One of the more compelling testimonies came from college student Jayleesha Copper, who was not thriving or being challenged in her public school setting. Her mother recognized the problem and sought financial assistance so she could afford to send Jayleesha to a private school.
While Jayleesha did receive some scholarships, her mother also had to work multiple jobs to pay for her private school tuition.
Although Jayleesha thrived at her new school, she regrets the time she lost with her mother while she worked to pay for her tuition. A mother shouldn’t have to sacrifice time with her children just to afford a quality education. Passing LB753 would make it possible for parents like Jayleesha’s mother to have the freedom to access the school that works best for their children, without sacrificing the important family time and investment that helps all children thrive.
Another compelling testimony came from Brandon Villanueva, the son of parents who are originally from Mexico. Brandon’s parents were committed to providing better educational opportunities for their children to succeed and made great sacrifices so that he and his siblings could attend private schools until college.
Brandon’s mom worked two full-time jobs, as a janitor and a maid, while his father worked two full-time jobs as a janitor. Brandon recognizes and appreciates their sacrifice, but knows that more kids like him could be helped by passing LB753.
Recent polling shows overwhelming support for empowering families with more educational options in Nebraska. But more important than state savings or polling results, supporting school choice is just the right thing to do. We cannot allow kids to feel trapped in a failing learning environment, and we cannot allow parents to feel trapped by limited options just trying to do what is best for their children.
School choice is not about politics—it’s about our kids. May this be the year Nebraska finally passes school choice and empowers families with educational freedom.
Write to your state senator today and encourage them to support LB753. Visit AFCNebraska.com or necatholic.org to send a message to lawmakers and learn more about school choice options.
