Archives: Andrew Handel / Articles
Archives: Andrew Handel / Articles (page 4)
-
Addressing Americans’ Lack of Civics Knowledge
On Saturday, September 17th, we celebrate Constitution Day. Beyond simply commemorating the day our Constitution was signed back in 1787, this holiday is meant to increase American awareness of our…
-
Arizona Families Celebrate New Universal ESA Law
During his January State of the State address, Arizona Governor Doug Ducey made waves after saying “Many of our poor kids and children of color are trapped in a…
-
Breaking Down President Biden’s Student Loan Handout
The White House released the details of President Biden’s student loan handout yesterday, which includes the following policy proposals: $10,000 of handouts for student loan borrowers making less than $125,000…
-
White House Set to Release Plans for Student Loan Forgiveness
One of President Reagan’s most famous quotes was “The nine most terrifying words in the English language are: I’m from the government, and I’m here to help.” These words…
-
Virginia Lab Schools Provide More Choice for K-12 Students
When Governor Glenn Youngkin signed the Virginia State Budget on June 21, he celebrated new opportunities for students and families, including the creation of “lab schools.” Lab schools are…
-
Reforming the American Pipeline to Higher Education
As our country faces higher costs of gas, groceries, and other consumer goods, customers are taking this opportunity to reevaluate their purchasing habits. This environment is also causing young Americans…
-
Arizona Becomes First State to Pass Universal Student Scholarships
In 2011, Arizona became the first state to create an education savings account (ESA) program. Initially, the Empowerment Scholarship Account Program was limited to students with special needs, but…
-
A Look into Social-Emotional Learning
Many states have sought to address controversial curriculum in K-12 schools over the past two years by either banning such curriculum or enhancing transparency requirements to keep parents informed of…
-
Student Loan Forgiveness is No Solution to America’s Higher Education Cost Problem
The Biden Administration is reportedly contemplating the elimination of up to $10,000 worth of student loan debt for borrowers making less than $150,000 per year ($300,000 for married couples…
-
New Report Details the Current State of Virginia Education
“Lower expectations, wider gaps, and lack of transparency.” This is the assessment provided by Virginia Superintendent of Public Instruction Jillian Balow and the Department of Education in a…
-
Nine States Pass New Bills to Protect Religious Freedom During Emergencies
The COVID-19 pandemic exposed significant flaws in state-level emergency management policies around the country. Ambiguous language and expansive grants of authority to Governors and executive agencies made tremendous executive overreach…
-
President Biden’s Department of Education Wages War on Charter Schools
A recent regulatory proposal issued by the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) takes aim at charter schools nationwide, marking the Department’s latest overreach on state-run education systems. The new…
-
Classrooms Empty in Minneapolis as Teachers Strike
The Minneapolis Teachers Union officially went on strike this Tuesday, plunging the district into an indefinite shutdown and suddenly sending parents scrambling for alternatives. The union is demanding…
-
Virginia Supreme Court and Senate Step In to Uphold Governor Youngkin’s School Masking Executive Order
In a previous post, I wrote about Governor Youngkin’s day one Executive Order which gave parents the choice to opt-out of a public school district’s mask mandate for…
-
Celebrating National School Choice Week
Each January, National School Choice Week brings together students, parents, and educators to collectively recognize the importance of educational freedom and parental choice. A lot happened in 2021 that…
-
Governor Youngkin Puts Educational Freedom in the Spotlight
Glenn Youngkin, Virginia’s newly minted Governor, ran a campaign centered around the importance of educational freedom and parental choice. On his first day in office, Governor Youngkin continued that emphasis…
-
Another Damaging Policy Idea: Burdensome Regulations for Child Care Providers
Elected officials in Washington are currently considering a slew of policy ideas that would create more burdensome licensing regulations. One such proposal would require that states either maintain or create…
-
Parents Deserve a Seat at the Table
Nationally, 8 out of 10 parents say this school year was an “eye-opening” experience that shifted parental involvement. These parents are perfectly able to “make their own decision” and ought to be at the table alongside teachers, administrators, and school board members. Without them, the most important people in a child’s education are effectively shut out of the process.
-
Why Programs like Universal Pre-K and Tuition-Free College Risk Student Outcomes
President Biden made tuition-free community college and universal pre-k the cornerstone issues of his 2020 campaign. And now, these programs are part of budget reconciliation discussions happening in Washington. These…
-
Governor DeSantis Continues to Empower Students and Families
ALEC was thrilled to have Florida Governor Ron DeSantis join us at our 48th Annual Meeting. In his remarks, Governor DeSantis discussed Florida’s unique approach to education during the COVID-19…