Superintendent Justin Henry testifies at Sen. Hirono's spotlight forum on private school voucher programs

Today, Senator Hirono (D-HI) hosted a “spotlight forum” to hear from public education practitioners and experts about the impact of private school voucher programs - specifically the Educational Choice for Children Act (ECCA) which is currently in front of Congress.

Justin Henry, Superintendent of Goddard Public Schools in Kansas, testified and shared the school leader perspective. Other participants included Jon Valant, Director, Brown Center on Education Policy, Brookings Institution; Katy Neas, Chief Executive Officer, The Arc of the United States; Paul Schulte, Vice President, Nebraska State Education Association; and Alexis Underwood, President, The Association of Bay County Educators.

Henry said, "As a public school superintendent, I believe every educator has the duty to advocate for a system that best meets the needs of each and every student. America's public schools educate all students, in every community regardless of their ability, background, or income level. The Educational Choice for Children Act threatens our essential mission by redirecting much-needed public funds to private schools, benefiting only a small number of students and offering no real reforms. We cannot afford to fund a secondary education system that gets to pick who and how it educates. I appreciate Senator Hirono's leadership on this issue and the opportunity to testify in today's forum."

AASA, The School Superintendents Association’s Executive Director, David R. Schuler, previously released a statement about ECCA and the impact it would have on the public education system, “We are deeply disappointed to see the Educational Choice for Children Act included in the Republican tax bill. Public dollars should fund public schools—the institutions that exist to serve every student, in every community, no exceptions. Every child, no matter their zip code, deserves access to a high-quality public education. Public schools are not only the foundation of our communities—they are American families’ number one choice, serving 90% of students, making them essential to the strength and future of our country. We urge Congress to prioritize sustainable investment in public education to ensure every child has the opportunity to succeed and thrive."

Video of the full forum can be found here. The press release from Senator Hirono's office can be found here.