[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 1]
[Senate]
[Page 1474]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




              RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF SCHOOL CHOICE

 Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. President, the Senate passed a resolution 
that I was proud to cosponsor recognizing this week as National School 
Choice Week.
  As a former school board member, I understand that State and local 
governments are best equipped to make education decisions for their 
communities--not Washington. Students and parents deserve to choose the 
education that meets their needs. I am committed to empowering parents 
with the ability to choose the best education options for their 
children.
  I asked Arkansans to share with me why school choice is important to 
them. Crystal Holland of Beebe wrote to me about her son, Hunter, who 
has high-functioning autism. She wrote that he was misdiagnosed with 
ADHD when he was 4 years old and diagnosed with autism when he was 11 
years old. ``He missed out on some very important critical skills 
because of all the discipline problems he was having due to anxiety,'' 
Holland wrote. ``School choice allows me to homeschool him as a result 
and I am very thankful for the opportunity.''
  Bob and Mary Anne Fielder of Hot Springs included competition in 
their email to me. ``Competition is always good. You would see a much 
improved public school system,'' they wrote.
  I agree with the Fielders. Competition among schools improves the 
standards for everybody. This Congress we will take important steps to 
improve education nationwide by fixing No Child Left Behind. This is a 
key vehicle to providing flexibility to States and to families so they 
can make the choices about education opportunities for their children.
  This week I skyped with students at public charter schools across 
Arkansas. The students said having educational options was important to 
them because it allows them to be better prepared for their interests 
beyond high school graduation.
  I am proud to support National School Choice Week and the outstanding 
educational choices that Arkansas offers. When it comes to education, 
it is important that we get the job done right. Allowing the freedom to 
choose between educational options for children is one way we can help 
parents make the best decision for their children's futures.

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