This legislative session, school choice is expected to be a hot topic. A bill introduced this week could provide thousands of dollars in savings accounts for students who homeschool, attend private school, or attend a school outside their district.
The Parental Rights in Childhood Education (PRICE) Act requires the state to contribute $6,900 to these students’ Education Savings Accounts, or ESAs. The funds can be used for school-related expenses such as tuition, books, and supplies.
If the bill is passed, parents and schools will have the option to participate in the program. The bill’s sponsor, state Senator Larry Stutts, believes there will be no mass exodus from one school to another if the legislation passes.
“It simply gives parents freedom and the choice to do it. Parents that are already making that choice, it gives them additional resources to improve their child’s education,” Stutts, R-Tuscumbia, said.
The ESAs would be implemented in the 2024-2025 school year. Some opponents argue that the bill restricts the freedoms of those who homeschool or attend private schools, but supporters argue that this is not the case. We’ve been told that no money is being taken away from public schools.