Prayers for School Choice in WV

In 2021 the West Virginia State legislature passed a bill, The Hope Scholarship Fund, that was subsequently signed by West Virginia Governor Justice that would provide funds to families so that they could choose the best path for their child’s education. These funds would not pose a reduction of funds to public schools, but it would do what many parents desire, and what MVCA continues to lobby for in Virginia, provide a true path forward to funding families instead of public schools.

We have shared this in a previous blog, but it serves to be repeated, when you create competition it only makes both sides work harder to be better. When you give parents the choice of where they can send their children to school, it creates a better future for the community as a whole. Studies over the past several decades indicate quite clearly that school choice has positive academic effects on both private and public schools. School choice has positive effects on both taxpayers and Public Schools. School choice has positive effects on racial segregation in schools, and it has positive effects on civic values and practices. (Greg Forster, Ph.D.)

I bring all of this to your attention again, and I urge you to pray even more, because on October 4, 2022 the West Virginia Supreme Court will hear arguments about the West Virginia Hope Scholarship. Hundreds of families, even some of our own, were counting on these funds to help send their children to a school that would be a better fit for their child, and to provide better opportunities.

For families across our nation, school choice is what we need to pray fervently for. It is right for West, Virginia, it is right for Virginia, and it is right for the nation. There is not one aspect that takes a negative hit because parents have a choice. And please hear my heart, we are not pro-school choice because we dislike those within the public system. We are pro-school choice because it is right for families and America.

For more information about school choice visit https://www.edchoice.org/ or https://schoolchoiceweek.com/.
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To read Dr. Greg Forster’s report on the Empirical Evidence for School Choice visit https://www.heartland.org/_template-assets/documents/publications/friedman_-_2016-5-win-win-solution-web.pdf