America's Report Card

As the summer comes to a close and the new school year is looming, excited children are buying backpacks, going over their class schedules, and anticipating all the new things they are going to learn. But with the year beginning, I would be remiss if I did not discuss the elephant in the room —Washington’s education report card.

In yWashington state, children ages K-12 are failing to meet the basic math and reading proficiency requirements, test scores are still far below where they were before the COVID-19 pandemic, enrollment is down 4%, and parents feel they are not being given a fair chance to have input into their children’s education. According to a study conducted by the Pew Research Center, only 16% of Americans say public education is going in the right direction. The study also found that those who say schooling is headed in the wrong direction say a major reason for this is that schools are neglecting to spend adequate time on teaching the core academic subjects, to the detriment of students. This dire situation demands immediate attention and reform, because America’s parents have had enough.

I have long been an advocate for freedom of choice in education, which is why I was an original co-sponsor of H.R. 5, the Parents Bill of Rights Act, which reaffirms the essential role parents play in their children’s education. This legislation is built on five core principles and maintains the idea that parents know what is best for their own children. These pillars include the ideas that parents have the right to know what their children are taught, to be heard, to see the school budget and spending, to protect their child’s privacy, and to keep their children safe. Last year, this legislation was passed in the House of Representatives, and I am hoping the Senate will soon prioritize giving parents a voice. This bill will provide families with transparency and ultimately provide a better curriculum and learning experience for our next generation.

The Parents Bill of Rights Act is just the first step in ensuring our nation’s children have the education they deserve. As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, I am working to move the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies FY25 Appropriations Act, which provides investment directly into our schools, out of committee and to the floor. This legislation prioritizes funding for early education, increases resources for programs assisting children with disabilities, places emphasis on career and technical education for students, and provides funds for charter schools to support students and families who seek different schooling options, all while cutting wasteful spending.

Parents deserve a wide variety of options, whether they live in an urban area or a rural region like Central Washington, which is why school choice is so important. It’s past time for our leaders to make sure America’s children have the best possible opportunities for success — because they deserve better than the status quo. I am committed to fighting for our future generations and the rights of our parents, so, together, we can improve outcomes for our children.