Rep. Roy Introduces SCHOOL Act

Texas Rep. Chip Roy (R) announced today that he is introducing the Support Children Having Open Opportunities for Learning Act (SCHOOL Act).

Noting that “the coronavirus pandemic has shown us all the value of having freedom and flexibility in our lives,” Rep. Roy’s office commented that “we cannot force parents into the untenable position of having to figure out how to provide for their families while simultaneously having to educate their children.”

With this bill, it “allows federal funds for K-12 education to follow the eligible child, regardless of whether the child is in public school, private school, or homeschool.”

It is “designed to protect students and ensure education continuity as we battle this virus,” highlighting that parents should “choose the best options for their child’s education needs.”

Specifically, the bill “will allow certain funds under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act to follow a child, whether learning in person or remotely, to the public school, private school, or homeschool of choice.”

As well, the bill will ensure that “funds can be used on a range of needs including, tuition, educational materials such as curriculum or technological materials, tutoring, extracurricular activities, and educational therapies for students with disabilities.”

The bill received an endorsement from Kentucky Senator Rand Paul (R) who commented that it “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.”