Today, parents are demanding a better schooling experience for their children — and red-state governors and legislatures are heeding their call.
Today, parents are demanding a better schooling experience for their children — and red-state governors and legislatures are heeding their call.
I n an environment where virtue-signaling and partisanship seem more important than thoughtful policy, there are leaders across the country who are stepping up to enact policies that rise above the Twitter echo chamber and point us toward a future in which every child can read and all students can access a dynamic and personalized educational experience.
One of those leaders is Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, who has embarked on a bold effort to address the barriers facing students in her home state of Arkansas, offering solutions aimed at making the state a national leader in student-centered education policy. It’s a comprehensive approach similar to the one we took to transform Florida’s struggling education system in 1999, and it will undoubtedly help the students of Arkansas reach new heights.
The Arkansas LEARNS (Literacy, Empowerment, Accountability, Readiness, Networking, and School Safety) Act puts an emphasis on extending educational freedom to all students, raising expectations so all students are reading successfully by the end of third grade, increasing teacher pay, strengthening programs to ensure all students are prepared for in-demand jobs, and providing grants to help families overcome transportation barriers that might otherwise prevent their children from attending better schools.
Each of these proposals is laudable on its own. But combined, they represent the broadest education-reform package proposed in any state this legislative session, and they demonstrate just how seriously Governor Sanders is taking her job. She’s not only had the courage to propose such an expansive course of action; she’s built a strong coalition of support to ensure that her campaign promise becomes a reality.
Thankfully, Governor Sanders is not alone in her efforts to transform education. Republican governors in Ohio, Tennessee, New Hampshire, Texas, and Oklahoma are also championing bold student-centered reforms that have the potential to change the lives of children and families.
In Ohio, Governor Mike DeWine has put forth a bold proposal that would require schools to teach using phonics and the science of reading, and would ban schools from using flawed methods such as “3-cueing.” This method, also known as “Balanced Literacy,” is proven to undermine the ability of children to build literacy skills by teaching kids to guess words rather than focus on phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension.
In Tennessee, Governor Bill Lee, who’s long championed parental empowerment and improved teacher recruitment and retention strategies, has also made early literacy a focus of his education agenda.
In New Hampshire, Governor Chris Sununu has proposed doubling funding and expanding eligibility for the state’s popular Education Freedom Accounts program, so more students can have the financial flexibility to access an education tailored to their individual needs.
In Texas, Governor Greg Abbott is championing a universal education-savings-account program, which would allow parents direct control over their children’s tuition, tutoring, books, and other educational expenses, and would provide additional funding to the parents of kids with special needs.
Finally, in Oklahoma, Governor Kevin Stitt has never been shy about his support for creating an education system that puts students first, and just this week the Oklahoma House of Representatives passed a universal school-choice proposal.
All of these governors are following on the heels of Governor Kim Reynolds of Iowa and Governor Spencer Cox of Utah, who have already spearheaded the passage of new, wide-ranging school-choice programs that have put their respective states on track to modernize their education systems, allowing each individual student access to an education that meets his or her unique needs.
This is the principled leadership of elected officials who are responding to a paradigm shift in education that’s been underway for more than 40 years, since the Reagan administration published A Nation at Risk in 1983.
Three years ago, the systemic gaps and deficiencies that have long plagued our nation’s schools were highlighted during the Covid pandemic, when school leaders prioritized system-oriented solutions as families watched their children struggle with isolation and learning loss. Today, parents are demanding a better experience for their children. They’re demanding more freedom and flexibility, and customized approaches that respect the dignity and individuality of every child, ensuring their sons and daughters are taught the skills to reach their God-given potential.
Our nation’s 200-year-old education system won’t be fixed overnight; it takes a bold vision and sustained leadership to enact transformative policy solutions. But all of these state-driven initiatives will help the next generation rise by creating more opportunities for students to succeed and achieve their own personal American Dream.
When it comes to education, Republican governors are leading with courage, and their efforts will make a real difference in the lives of millions of American students.