Bob Sullivan: ESAs Are A Win For Families, Taxpayers and Teachers
Education savings accounts are a win for families, taxpayers and teachers
BY BOB SULLIVAN
Education Savings Accounts are not just a current hot topic in the Oklahoma Legislature. They present a rare opportunity for our elected officials to deliver “win-win-win” legislation for Oklahoma families, taxpayers, and teachers. ESAs can provide clear education choices for children and parents, freeing up precious taxpayer dollars for redirection to underpaid teachers, and demonstrate true vision and leadership rather than business as usual.
ESAs are win-win-win because they squarely meet the only meaningful objective of our K-12 public education system — to provide a solid education for each individual student in the school that best fits that student’s unique circumstances — while leaving funds in state coffers for reallocation among a long list of state budgetary needs.
To channel each young Oklahoman into the public school according to ZIP code is to embrace a one-size-fits-all approach to educating our children. As a father of six, and as one who embraces plain common sense, I view the flexibility ESAs offer each family in their education choices as not just a welcomed vehicle of choices, but as a solid opportunity for each child to find his or her educational pathway toward achievement, self-satisfaction and success.
ESAs are NOT vouchers. Vouchers are instruments of a fixed amount of money, used to purchase or pay for tuition, at a specific school. ESAs are much more than that, and are far more flexible for parents and students to use to achieve their families’ academic goals. Among other things, parents can use ESAs to pay for the following education-related expenses: Tuition and fees to an accredited private school, approved supplemental learning materials, tutoring and educational therapy services, and even certain services from public schools. Oversight of expenditures will be part of the ESA legislation.