One by One

Perseverance pays off.

I often get asked if there is any chance at all to pass a school choice bill in certain states. While there are definitely some states that are more challenging than others, and some may require a decade or more of trying (like Illinois), but one by one, states are listening to parents and adopting policies that give parents more educational opportunities for their children.

This week, West Virginia and Kentucky lawmakers passed their respective state’s first private school choice bills. After nearly a decade of trying, Kentucky legislators sent House Bill 563  to Governor Beshear following a 48-47 vote in the House. The deciding vote was cast by Rep. Al Gentry  the lone Democrat who had the political courage to vote for a bill that his constituents wanted despite opposition from his party.

Thank you to our friends at EdChoice Kentucky who led a broad coalition including the Orthodox community and helped amplify the voice of thousands of parents . The bill now awaits the Governor’s signature and, if necessary, a veto override from the General Assembly. To learn more about HB 563 See the graphic below.

In Illinois, the state’s scholarship tax credit program provides scholarships of about $13,000 to thousands of students including many children attending Jewish schools. While the program has received bi-partisan support in the Democrat-controlled Legislature, it is facing a significant threat from the governor.