PPI Champions State Role in Education Choice Initiatives in Joint Letter to DeVos
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
COLUMBIA – Palmetto Promise Institute (PPI) joined 12 other leading state and national organizations in sending a letter to Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, outlining the importance of state-led efforts on education choice and 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. In addition, the letter offers support for specific policies that the Administration should champion to bolster parental choice movements across the nation and to keep the education choice movement unified.
In addition to PPI, members of the coalition include: American Legislative Exchange Council, The Heritage Foundation, Alabama Policy Institute, Beacon Center of Tennessee, The Georgia Public Policy Foundation, The Goldwater Institute, Idaho Freedom Foundation, Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs, Public Interest Institute, The Texas Public Policy Foundation, The Rio Grande Foundation and The Sutherland Institute.
“One-size-fits-all education mandates from Washington have not served our students well,” said PPI President Ellen Weaver. “Meanwhile, flexible state leadership on the issue of school choice has empowered thousands of families across South Carolina and the nation with new options to help their students find success.
We are encouraged by the Administration’s strong support of education choice and believe they have a strategic chance to advance exciting new opportunity for federally-connected students, including children of active duty service members, those living on tribal lands and in Washington, DC. But it is essential that any national school choice initiative not undermine the primary role of states like South Carolina to determine the education policies that best serve the needs of their students.”
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