Kansas School Choice Solutions

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School closures during the COVID-19 pandemic had devastating effects on the educational progress of American schoolchildren, revealed deep inadequacies of the public-school monopoly, and left families feeling powerless about setting the direction of their children’s education. Thankfully, on May 2022, Governor Laura Kelly signed a comprehensive school choice bill that will allow all Kansas students to attend any public school of their choosing by June 2024. Students can apply before the fall semester begins and will be granted a spot if space permits. Transportation, however, is their responsibility. House Bill 2567 will finally allow families to have a say in which school best suits their child’s needs and will help ensure that educated decisions on which schools are best to attend will no longer be dictated by county lines.

National test results for 2022 show that school closures during the Covid-19 pandemic had a harmful effect on American schoolchildren. For the first time in the history of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), scores in reading and math fell by the largest margin in more than 30 years and students in Kansas were no exception. See Chart on page 2.

In 2022, according to the National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP) in Kansas:

• The reading level of 4th grade students who performed at or above the NAEP Proficient in was only 31%.
• Black 4th grade students had an average reading score that was 27 points lower than that for White students.
• Hispanic 4th grade students had an average reading score that was 22 points lower than that for White students.
• Low-income 4th grade students had an average reading score that was 28 points lower than that for students from middle and high income families.

These test scores can have powerful consequences for a generation of children. Reversing these achievement losses will need aggressive action over the next several years. Parents need the ability to leave their government-mandated schools if necessary to help ensure their children have better academic opportunities. School choice is also shown to improve public schools by increasing accountability, fostering competitiveness, and boosting student outcomes. When parents can choose which option best fits their child’s needs, whether that means opting to switch or not, students reap the benefits.

As the AFPI Center for Education Opportunity, Chairman Scott Turner repeatedly states, “No one knows the needs and interests of a child more than their parent or guardian.”

School choice is representative of two core American values—freedom and opportunity. At AFPI, we believe that the purpose of education is to prepare Americans for the rights and responsibilities of citizenship. As public support for school choice continues to grow, students across the nation will have access to schooling that meets individualized needs, and educational outcomes will improve. Most importantly, parents will be empowered to have a stronger voice in the conversation about their child’s schooling. While the Biden administration tries to stall progress on school choice policies, the Center for Education Opportunity remains highly committed to the school choice mission.