Economist Thomas Sowell unleashed on the current state of the U.S. education system, arguing it is keeping students and families trapped in a cycle of failure. (Fox News)
Sowell’s core argument outlined that the education system is insulated from the kind of consequences that force correction in other arenas, such as private businesses facing punishment for poor performance with monetary losses.
"Public school education, you have the almost inexhaustible amount of money from the taxpayers," he said as to why school systems have failed students. "Private schools are becoming private more in name than in reality. They're getting billions of dollars of taxpayers' money and there's very little following of what happens. So that they can keep on doing things that are wrong for generation after generation."
Basic math and reading scores among American students have been on a downward trajectory for years, with the COVID-19 pandemic and remote learning worsening the trends in recent history.
Students and parents rally at the Ohio Statehouse in support of possible changes that would increase eligibility for taxpayer-funded school vouchers to K-12 students statewide on Thursday, May 17, 2023, in Columbus, Ohio. (Samantha Hendrickson/The Associated Press )
Democrats who do oppose charter expansion often cite charters pull students and funding from traditional district schools, weaken unionized teacher protections, and raise alarms that they can operate with uneven oversight.
Sowell's critiques come as the nation celebrates National School Choice week.
MAJOR CITY SCHOOL DISTRICTS LOSING STUDENTS AS PARENTS SEEK BETTER OPTIONS
The Trump administration is currently pushing states to "opt in" to a new federal K-12 scholarship tax credit created under the Working Families Tax Cut Act, otherwise known as the One Big Beautiful Bill, warning families could miss out if their governors don’t take action. The tax credit is set to begin at the start of 2027.
The White House unveiled a new website page encouraging Americans to call their governors if they have not yet opted into a federal school choice tax credit. (White House)
Taxpayers can get up to $1,700 back as a federal tax credit by donating that money to approved Scholarship Granting Organizations (SGOs) instead of sending it to Washington in income taxes. Those SGOs then turn the donations into K-12 scholarships and other education help families can use for a broad range of costs tied to public, private or charter schools.
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The Department of Education celebrated Monday that 23 states have so far opted in to a program the department called the "largest national expansion of education freedom in history and provides families with more affordable education options."
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