Education

The federal government has no rightful place in our education system. Yet Congress and the Department of Education have continuously imposed their own priorities by tying education policies to sought-after federal funding. It is through this process that states were coerced into adopting the Common Core State Standards. It is time we start reversing this trend and returning power to states and local communities who can best determine the needs of our students.

Instead of a one-size-fits-all education policy, government should make it easier for parents to choose the best educational option for their children. Educational choice – whether public, private, charter, home school, or online – gives every child a better chance to succeed and prepares students for their future lives in this great country. This kind of choice also creates greater competition in the education environment, resulting in a higher quality education for students.

My home state of Arizona is a national leader on school choice. Arizona passed the first ever scholarship tax credit program twenty years ago, giving taxpayers a dollar-for-dollar tax credit to enable low-income and disabled children to attend private schools. We also lead when it comes to charter schools. In Arizona, more children per capita attend exemplary charter schools, some of which rank among the highest achieving schools in the nation. I am working in Congress to decrease federal intrusion into matters rightfully governed by the states and to ensure that our children receive the best education possible.