Capitol Words a project of the Sunlight Foundation

Rep. Mike Pence

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize January 22-28, 2012, as National School Choice Week. Our children are the future of this great Nation, and they should be able to attend the highest-quality schools possible. Improving the quality of education and expanding access to highly effective schools is an important step toward ensuring that all of our children receive the best possible education in America.

This week, more than 400 events will be held in all 50 states to advance and support school choice. Tens of thousands of Americans will be taking part in these events including parents, teachers, and guardians responsible for taking care of our Nation's children. America is blessed to have a multitude of high-quality public schools, public charter schools, and nonpublic schools, as well as many high-quality teaching professionals who are committed to educating our children.

This past year, my home State of Indiana enacted meaningful and comprehensive education reform that provides parents with the freedom to make sure their child gets the best education possible. And last year I was proud to support Speaker Boehner's Scholarships for Opportunity and Results Act (H.R. 471) when it passed the House of Representatives. The SOAR Act allows for education scholarships to be provided to children in the District of Columbia so that they can receive a high quality education regardless of their race or income status in society. Research demonstrates conclusively and consistently that providing children with multiple schooling options improves academic performance and parental satisfaction.

And so I rise today in strong support of National School Choice Week because I support empowering parents with school choice. Every child must have the opportunity to pursue the American dream, and I firmly believe parents are in the best position to determine which schools their children should attend. As a parent myself, I am proud to celebrate National School Choice Week, and I look forward to continuing to advocate for local control of education and for further opportunities to provide parents with the ability to give their children the best education possible.