Parent Group Urges Action On School Choice Following Trump Speech

For Immediate Release: March 1, 2017

Oklahoma Parent Group Asks Legislators to Stand with President Trump on School Choice
Legislators Expected to Vote on Key School Choice Legislation This Week

OKLAHOMA CITY — In last night’s address to the United States Congress, President Donald Trump spoke strongly in favor of school choice, advocating for policies that allow families to choose the public, private, or charter school of their choice.

The Oklahoma group ChoiceMatters for Kids, a parent-led organization advocating for greater educational options for parents and children, is encouraging Oklahoma legislators to follow the president’s lead on school choice legislation.

“Donald Trump won a super majority of votes in Oklahoma by advocating for policies that empower individuals and families,” said ChoiceMatters for Kids President Robert Ruiz. “The most important choice a family can make on behalf of their child is how and where to educate their child. On education, President Trump is getting it right. Now it’s time for our legislators to listen to their constituents and listen to their president on school choice.”

Ruiz pointed specifically to Senate Bill 560, authored by Sen. Rob Standridge, which creates Education Savings Accounts, or ESAs. The creation of ESAs would allow parents to direct a portion of their education tax dollars to whatever public, charter or private school they choose for their child. The bill is expected to be heard this week in the Oklahoma Senate Appropriations Committee.

“This is the most important school choice bill we’ve seen in Oklahoma in years,” said Ruiz. “Parents are waiting on our legislators to follow through on their promises to support individual rights and policies that empower families instead of government. They can do that this week by voting ‘yes’ on SB 560.”