Cantor speaks in support of educational choice

By Matt Frendewey

Today, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor spoke at the Brookings Institute to advocate for the expansion of school choice programs across the country and give parents the power to provide their children with excellent educational opportunities.

“School choice protects families and children, not bureaucracies. It’s about making sure every student … (has) high aspirations and big dreams beyond the challenges in their lives (and) can have the best possible teachers in the best possible school environment,” Cantor said. “Surely, that is a goal we can all agree on.”

Cantor emphasized the necessity for bipartisan collaboration in regards to education reform. He also discussed how there is no one size fits all approach to educational reform, just like there is no one size fits all approach to what sort of education a child requires to succeed.  He said, “Although change can be scary, it makes such a difference for families and their kids.”

Cantor has been able to see this difference firsthand when visiting charter schools across the country. Specifically in Louisiana, where a scholarship program is currently being challenged by a Department of Justice lawsuit, Cantor met Brian, a student who benefits from the Louisiana Scholarship Program. Although Brian has a tough home life, at school he has much more than the majority of American students.

“He is in a great school surrounded by caring teachers, who go above and beyond and are truly committed to his progress. Brian is thriving there. He told me he has big plans for the future” Cantor said. “At 11 years old, (Brian) is aiming high, and now has his heart set on going to college.”

We applaud Majority Leader Cantor for his commitment to educational choice, our nation’s children and overall our nation’s future. 

We also want to take this opportunity to praise leaders who have been champions of educational choice. Speaker John Boehner, Rep. Dan Lipinski, Sen. Dianne Feinstein and Sen. Susan Collins’ support of the Washington D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program has helped with the program’s continued success. Additionally, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, Rep. Todd Rokita, Rep. John Kline, Sen. Marco Rubio, Sen. Lamar Alexander and Sen. Rand Paul have worked tirelessly to advance school choice programs at the federal level.

The entire seminar and Leader Cantor’s speech can be viewed here.