GEORGIA PUBLIC POLICY FOUNDATION NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
June 7, 2017
Contact: Benita Dodd, Georgia Public Policy Foundation
| (404) 256-4050
Foundation Joins National Coalition Urging Trump Administration
To Champion Constitutionally Focused Education Choice Agenda
Atlanta – The Georgia Public Policy Foundation has joined a dozen state and national organizations that champion education choice in sending a letter to Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos today to praise her outspoken commitment to parental choice in education.
The letter outlines the importance of state-led efforts on education choice, emphasizing the need to remain true to the tenets of federalism – in particular, by moving education decision-making out of Washington to states, local school districts and, ultimately, parents.
The letter also offers support for specific policies that the Trump Administration should champion to bolster parental choice movements across the nation and to keep the education choice movement unified.
Aside from the Georgia Public Policy Foundation, coalition members are the American Legislative Exchange Council, The Heritage Foundation, Alabama Policy Institute, Beacon Center of Tennessee, The Goldwater Institute, Idaho Freedom Foundation, Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs, Palmetto Promise Institute, Public Interest Institute, The Rio Grande Foundation, The Sutherland Institute and the Texas Public Policy Foundation, which organized the coalition effort.
“When families have education options, the resulting competition becomes a rising tide that lifts all boats,” said Kelly McCutchen, president of the Georgia Public Policy Foundation. “When the federal government steps back, Georgia and other states can step up and empower parents and children to improve student outcomes and academic achievement.”
“We’re encouraged Secretary DeVos understands that education needs to be about the children, not about a centralized or top-heavy bureaucracy hooked on the status quo and trapping students in schools that fail to meet their needs.”
“As the administration advances its education choice agenda, the Texas Public Policy Foundation and other leading organizations across the nation are prepared to provide critical policy support for efforts that move education decision-making out of Washington,” said Chip Roy, Director of the Center for Tenth Amendment Action at the Texas Public Policy Foundation.
“Education is fundamentally a local issue and the education choice movement’s success relies on the continued advancement of choice at the state level,” Roy added. “We are heartened by Secretary DeVos’ recent pronouncements on the issue and remain encouraged that she will continue to vocally champion the issue.”
To see the full letter, please click on this link.
To interview Kelly McCutchen, email or call 404-256-4050.
About the Georgia Public Policy Foundation: Established in 1991, the Foundation is an independent, state-focused think tank that proposes market-oriented approaches to public policy to improve the lives of Georgians.