The push to nationalize the content taught in public schools across the country should be of great concern to state leaders. The Common Core national standards effort represents a massive federal overreach into what is taught in local schools, further removing parents from the educational decision-making process, and likely to …
“Budgets are about choices,” stated President Obama in recent remarks to governors about his massive fiscal year (FY) 2013 budget request. Nothing more clearly demonstrates the Administration’s priorities than Obama’s decision to once again place the successful D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program (DCOSP) on the chopping block while simultaneously growing the …
On Tuesday, President Obama criticized Representative Paul Ryan’s (R–WI) budget proposal as making “draconian cuts” to federal spending programs. In particular, the President said, “If this budget becomes law and the cuts were applied evenly, starting in 2014, over 200,000 children would lose their chance to get an early education …
The New Hampshire legislature recently passed a tuition tax credit option that would provide low- and middle-income students with increased educational choice. The School Choice Scholarship Act would provide tax credits to businesses that donate to nonprofit organizations that provide vouchers to low- and middle-income children. The participating businesses can …
President Obama’s near-term spending proposals for the Department of Education (DOE) are a staggering display of federal profligacy. They include the recently released fiscal year (FY) 2013 budget request and an education “blueprint” outlining $60 billion in additional spending. If enacted, these proposals would mean that in one term, President …
The South Carolina House has passed a tuition tax credit program that would give children access to scholarships to attend a private school of their choice. Individuals who donate to the privately funded scholarships for low-income and special needs students would be eligible for a tax credit. The proposal also …
Democrats in the Michigan state legislature recently announced the “Michigan 2020” plan, a proposal to provide “free” college tuition—up to $9,500 per year—to Michigan students to attend a state college. Supporters say that this will provide increased opportunities for more low-income students to attend post-secondary institutions. However, there are several …
Education Secretary Arne Duncan recently said that the idea that the Obama Administration is working to implement national standards and tests “is a conspiracy theory in search of a conspiracy.” Duncan can deny that the federal government is on the verge of creating a national curriculum—an unprecedented federal overreach—but as George …
