Gov. Landry Signs Landmark GATOR Scholarship Bill into Law
July 3, 2024
In a historic move, Gov. Jeff Landry signed SB 313, also known as the Giving All True Opportunity to Rise (GATOR) Scholarship, into law. This legislation marks the beginning of a universal Education Savings Account (ESA) program in Louisiana, aimed at empowering every family with the freedom to choose the best educational path for their children. According to a June 2023 poll, two-thirds of Louisiana K-12 parents support educational freedom, with a staggering 88% expressing a desire to control the school their child attends. This sentiment is echoed nationwide, as a broad majority of Americans believe that educational freedom enhances…
Yates: It’s time to expand educational opportunity for every SC child
March 29, 2024
Andrew Yates, YES government affairs director, recently published an op-ed in the Post and Courier calling for South Carolina lawmakers to fund every kid this session, as H.5164, a bill to expand education freedom to every family, heads to the Senate. What happens if children in South Carolina attend a school that does not work for them? Perhaps they are being bullied. Perhaps they love theater, but their school does not offer performing arts. Or perhaps they have a learning disability that their school is struggling to accommodate. If their family can afford it, they will probably use their resources…
Family-First Policy Priorities for 2024 & Beyond
January 10, 2024
Today, a family searching for an educational experience outside of their government-assigned school will find that, in many states and localities, they do not even hold the power to make that decision. Politicians, aided by staff of government agencies and school districts, have already decided for them. A family knows their kids better than state officials who have never met them. This statement seems obvious, yet education today is structured in the opposite direction. By putting family empowerment first in policy design, state lawmakers can help remove barriers for Americans to craft a future where education reflects the unique needs…
