Jolley, Nelson: One-Size-Fits-All Doesn’t Work In Education
Oklahoma legislators: One-size-fits-all doesn’t work in education
By Sen. Clark Jolley and Rep. Jason Nelson
Education is crucial to a happy, productive life. Ideologies vary, but there is widespread agreement that a well-educated public benefits all, especially the most vulnerable among us.
Children deserve an education that meets their unique needs. A one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t work. By increasing the educational options available to Oklahomans, we’re able to empower those who have never been given the opportunity to choose — many times the most vulnerable among us.
State-funded education savings accounts are empowering thousands of children in other states, but many of the children in Oklahoma are still waiting for access to an education that provides them the best opportunity for success. That’s why we’re running legislation to create education savings accounts for Oklahoma children.
Oklahomans support school choice. This isn’t surprising when one considers the various public and private options already funded by numerous government programs.
For example, Medicaid provides hundreds of thousands of children in Oklahoma the ability to choose the public, private, nonprofit, or religious doctor or medical provider who best suits their needs. The state’s Oklahoma Higher Learning Access and Tuition Equalization Grant Programs provide scholarships for thousands of Oklahoma students to attend the public, private, or religious college of their choice. Our Department of Human Services provides Oklahoma parents assistance to enroll their child in the qualified public, private or religious daycare service of their choice. Even numerous Oklahomans in our prison system trying to turn their life around use public, private and religious programs funded by the state.