Paul Challenges Status Quo in Federal Education PDF Print E-mail
FOR RELEASE: September 13, 2000

Paul Challenges Status Quo in Federal Education Promotes Parental Control Over Education Dollars

Washington, D.C. - This week, Representative Ron Paul sent a letter to his colleagues in Congress asking them to join him in supporting true education reform. The letter outlined Paul’s "Family Education Freedom Act" (H.R.935), a bill designed to restore parental and local control over education by reducing federal bureaucratic micro-management of education dollars.
"The 'Family Education Freedom Act' restores decision making to parents, who are best able to determine their children’s unique educational needs," Paul stated. "No government bureaucrat knows what’s best for your children, and decades of increasing federal control over America’s local schools have produced poor results. My bill will initiate true education reform by reducing federal involvement."
The "Family Education Freedom Act" provides parents with a $3,000 per child tax credit for expenses incurred in providing a quality K-12 education. Parents may use the credit whether they choose a public, private, or parochial school for their children. The credit also is available to parents choosing home schooling. The Act is free of guidelines and restrictions, so parents, not politicians, determine how education dollars are spent. Parents have maximum flexibility in choosing how to educate their children, without taking funding away from public schools.
"When parents control education dollars, schools must perform or parents will choose another option for their children," Paul continued. "Americans have always spent generously on education. I believe that parents and locally elected school boards are more effective than the federal government in providing American children with the solid education they need to compete in today’s world."
"My education agenda returns control over education dollars to the American people, which is the best way to improve public education," Paul concluded. "I will continue to use my position on the House Education Committee to fight for education reform. I urge my colleagues to join me in opposing the status quo and supporting real reform."