FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
August 17, 2020
 Contact: Press@paul.senate.gov, 202-224-4343

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Earlier this month, U.S. Senator and Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee member Rand Paul (R-KY) introduced S. 4432, the Support Children Having Open Opportunities for Learning (SCHOOL) Act to provide parents and students with much-needed flexibility and options regarding K-12 education.

U.S. Representative Chip Roy (R-TX-21) has since introduced companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives as H.R. 8054. “The SCHOOL Act eases one of this pandemic’s most crushing burdens, returning more of families’ own money to them so they have greater flexibility to provide the best possible education for their kids and cover the costs that come with it. I am proud to be joined across the Capitol in this effort by Representative Roy as momentum builds for this much-needed legislation,” said Dr. Paul.

“As our nation battles the coronavirus, we should not force parents into the untenable position of having to balance providing for their families while educating their children. The SCHOOL Act will ensure parents are able to make the best decision to fit the educational needs of their children. I am proud to have Sen. Rand Paul lead the effort in the Senate to make sure parents have the flexibility to make the best possible decisions for their children,” said Rep. Roy.

While federal education dollars are currently sent to states and then distributed amongst public school districts, Dr. Paul’s SCHOOL Act would allow federal funds for K-12 education to follow the eligible child, learning in person or remotely, to the school of their choice.  Whether in public school, private school, or homeschool, the funds could be used for a wide range of educational needs, including tuition, curriculum materials, technology, support for special education, or classes outside the home. As families face the reality of hybrid learning or a completely virtual school year, students, especially those with disabilities, need a choice in education and the tools to succeed no matter where they are learning.

You can read S. 4432, the SCHOOL Act, HERE, and you can find more information below:

S. 4432, Dr. Rand Paul’s Support Children Having Open Opportunities for Learning (SCHOOL) Act

•    Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act to allow certain funds authorized under those laws to follow a child, whether learning in person or remotely, to the public school, private school, or homeschool of the family’s choice

•    Allows those funds to be used for a range of needs, including:

◦    Curriculum materials
◦    Technological educational materials
◦    Tutoring
◦    Extracurricular activities
◦    Private school tuition; and
◦    Support for Special Education

•    Ensures each child would receive the same amount of funding, regardless of where the child is enrolled

•    Ensures students who choose to take advantage of these opportunities could still benefit from federally funded school food programs

•    Protects non-public education providers from federal and state control

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