FreedomWorks Statement in Support of Virginia School Voucher Bill

WASHINGTON, D.C. — In response to Virginia House of Delegates legislation aimed to introduce a school voucher system as public schools remain closed, Laura Zorc, FreedomWorks Senior Advisor of Education Policy Reform and Parent Led Advocacy, commented:

“FreedomWorks applauds Virginia State Delegate Michael Webert’s (R-D.18) efforts to give emergency options to families through education vouchers in an amount equal to a prorated share of per-pupil state funds appropriated to public schools. The bill is short and straight to the heart of what needs to be done to help Virginia families. As a parent of two school aged children himself, Del. Webert understands that families need this financial relief to educate their kids while the Virginia school board lacks the option of in-person instruction as the sole method of instruction laid out in H.B. 1742.

“FreedomWorks is hopeful that the legislature will put party politics aside and act in the best interest of students in Virginia. Parents across the state are pleading to have their voices heard this session. School boards have fallen short, so it’s now up to the legislature to fix their wrongs. Parents need to be given choices besides creating a GoFundMe page to legally challenge school districts’ decisions to remain shuttered. Parents like Russell Laird, an Arlington school district parent, are up against the wall with no other choice but to seek legal action against ineffective school board planning. It’s time to take parents seriously. It’s time for Virginia’s lawmakers to set an example by passing legislation in the next 30 days that sends a clear message to Virginia families and the country that in the state of Virginia, our kids are important.”