S.487 - Creating Hope and Opportunity for Individuals and Communities through Education Act; CHOICE Act (119th Congress)
Summary
S.487, the CHOICE Act, aims to expand educational opportunities through school choice programs. It amends the Scholarships for Opportunity and Results Act to improve scholarship availability for low-income students in D.C. The bill also seeks to provide states with options to innovate and improve education for children with disabilities by expanding choices under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
Furthermore, it establishes a military scholarship program to ensure high-quality education for children of military personnel living on military installations. This program provides scholarships for eligible military students to attend public or private elementary and secondary schools selected by their parents.
The bill authorizes appropriations for the military scholarship program and includes an offset in the Department of Education's salaries to fund it.
Expected Effects
The CHOICE Act is likely to increase school choice options for low-income students, students with disabilities, and military families. This could lead to increased enrollment in private schools and potentially improved educational outcomes for participating students.
However, it may also divert funding from public schools, potentially impacting their resources. The impact will depend on the scale and implementation of the programs.
Potential Benefits
- Provides educational choice for low-income families in D.C. through improved scholarship programs.
- Expands educational options for children with disabilities by allowing states to innovate and offer choices.
- Offers scholarships to military families, improving educational opportunities for their children.
- Could foster competition among schools, potentially leading to improved educational quality.
- Empowers parents to make decisions about their children's education.
Potential Disadvantages
- May divert funding from public schools, potentially weakening them.
- Could lead to unequal access to quality education if private schools are not held to sufficient standards.
- The military scholarship program is limited to selected military installations, creating potential disparities.
- The offset in the Department of Education's salaries could impact other educational programs.
- May face challenges in ensuring equitable access for all eligible students, especially those with disabilities.
Constitutional Alignment
The bill's provisions on religious schools and non-discrimination raise First Amendment considerations. The bill attempts to balance religious freedom with non-discrimination principles, allowing religious schools to maintain their religious character while participating in the programs.
The provisions related to education fall under the general welfare clause of the Constitution, which allows Congress to enact laws that promote the general welfare of the United States. However, the Tenth Amendment reserves powers not delegated to the federal government to the states, and education is traditionally a state responsibility. The bill attempts to address this by providing options to states rather than mandates.
The bill's provisions regarding students with disabilities align with the Fourteenth Amendment's equal protection clause, ensuring that these students have access to appropriate educational opportunities.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).