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February 6, 2023
Last week, The Virginian Pilot published an op-ed titled “Education savings accounts can address learning loss among minority students” by Denisha Allen, Founder Of Black Minds Matter, and Michael Monrroy, Coalitions Director for The LIBRE Initiative-Virginia, a grassroots organization committed to empowering the U.S. Hispanic community. Read the full op-ed here.
Since the pandemic, student test scores have declined sharply, especially among minority students. This op-ed emphasizes how Educational Savings Accounts (ESAs) provide every student with the resources to succeed and allow families to choose what is best for their children.
Educational Savings Accounts (ESA) are the key to educational opportunities for minorities.
Below are some excerpts from the op-ed:
The purpose of education is to help kids identify their interests and talents, and then develop them. When that happens, and students are empowered to pursue their passions and what truly motivates them, they develop the habits that lead to success.
But in the one-size-fits-all world of traditional public education, this kind of learning is stymied.
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Since the beginning of the pandemic, several states have launched or expanded education savings accounts (ESA), which allows families to fund a variety of services, including tutoring, home schooling, and private school.
The where is less important than the what. And what matters is that families have the option to choose what’s best for their kids.
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We cannot force every kid into identical educational experiences and expect them all to prosper. We need to transform the system, to allow families to customize their kids’ education in whatever way is best for their individual learning styles.
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ESAs can work for Virginia, too. They can be the great equalizer, empowering every family to personalize their child’s learning experience to meet their unique needs.
Read the full op-ed here.