Republicans have long touted vouchers as the signature solution to the challenges facing our nation’s public schools, and today, President Donald Trump proposed the first steps toward a $20 billion annual investment in school choice.
Many details are still unknown, but this proposal has sparked deep concern among many groups, and observers from across party lines believe this proposal could devastate public schools while rewarding corporations and wealthy individuals. The proposal raises several questions: How would it be structured and administered? Who would benefit? What would be the impact on students and communities, particularly students from disadvantaged communities? What does the research say about the track record of vouchers and of using tax incentives to promote private school vouchers?
Join the Center for American Progress and a distinguished panel for an in-depth discussion of the details and implications of President Trump and Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos’ voucher proposal.
Introductory remarks:
Carmel Martin, Executive Vice President, Policy, Center for American Progress
Keynote remarks:
Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) Ranking Member, U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Remarks:
Anna Caudill, parent advocate, Tennessee
Distinguished panelists:
Carl Davis, Research Director, Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy
Diane Whitmore Schanzenbach, Director, The Hamilton Project; Senior Fellow, Brookings Institution
Gaylen Smyer, Superintendent, Cassia County School District; 2017 Idaho Superintendent of the Year; Member, AASA, The School Superintendents Association Governing Board
Neena Chaudhry, Director of Education and Senior Counsel, National Women’s Law Center
Moderator:
Neil Campbell, Director of Innovation for K-12 Education Policy, Center for American Progress