Expanding School Choice and Alternatives to Four-Year College Degrees: A Path to Empowering Students and Boosting Academic Opportunities

Strategic Insights -

The hearing on "Opening Doors to Opportunity: The Promise of Expanded School Choice and Alternatives to Four-Year College Degrees" held by the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Oversight and Government Reform shed light on the benefits of expanded school choice programs and the need for alternative pathways to higher education. Members of the subcommittee examined the current state of post-secondary education institutions and their failure to produce college graduates who meet the U.S. economy's needs. The hearing highlighted the importance of providing students with options and empowering them to choose the path that best suits their needs and talents.

Key Takeaways:

  • American K-12 education has been declining for decades, but states that have expanded school choice programs have seen improvements in student academic performance and lifetime outcomes, while also lowering costs for taxpayers.
  • 27 out of 30 studies have shown positive or neutral effects on the achievement of students who stay in their local public schools participating in school choice programs.
  • The Ohio Ed Choice program has demonstrated significant success, with students who participated in the program being 32 percent more likely to enroll in college and 60 percent more likely to earn a bachelor's degree than their peers.
  • For the lowest-income students, the effect was even greater, with a 175 percent increase in college graduation rates.
  • Alternative post-secondary education programs, such as apprenticeships and industry-recognized certification programs, can provide early career learning, income, and futures absent of student debt.
  • Dr. Cody Hirschi, Superintendent of the Reeds Spring School District, testified that the district's focus on vocational training and real-world learning has led to a significant increase in students earning industry-recognized credentials, with 88 percent of students in internships having a positive placement in a career path.
  • Todd Dillender, Chief Operating Officer of Caliber Collision, testified that the shortage of technicians and other skilled workers can be addressed through vocational training and apprenticeships, with the potential to create millions of new job openings.

Statistics:

  • 27 out of 30 studies have shown positive or neutral effects on the achievement of students who stay in their local public schools participating in school choice programs.
  • The Ohio Ed Choice program has seen a 32 percent increase in college enrollment and a 60 percent increase in bachelor's degree attainment among participants.
  • 88 percent of students in internships at the Reeds Spring School District have a positive placement in a career path.
  • Tech Forest estimates a need for nearly 100,000 new technicians between 2024 and 2028.
  • Over the past two years, a majority of states have passed laws limiting cell phone use in schools.
  • More than a third of undergraduate programs today have a negative return on investment, and only 60 percent of students who enter college graduate with a degree within six years.

Sources:

  • U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
  • American Federation for Children
  • Economic Policy Innovation Center at The Heritage Foundation
  • Reeds Spring School District
  • Caliber Collision
  • Tech Forest
  • Harvard University