How to Fix the Unequal Distribution of Education Resources

Each December we spend a lot of time thinking about gifts. We reflect on those we care most about and try to figure out what they would like, or what will make their lives better. With the holiday season now behind us, it’s a good time to remember that one of the most important gifts we can offer our young people is a chance at a better education.

When we think about how best to ensure that every child is given the educational foundation they need to thrive, we must remember that every child is unique. Children have different skills, different interests, and different learning styles. Our educational system, on the other hand, tries to teach them all in the same setting, with the same approach and curriculum, expecting them all to succeed – and knowing that too many won’t.

That’s a mistake – one we must address with innovation that makes school more flexible. This effort has gained steam in the wake of a pandemic that clearly illustrated the problem of a system built entirely on in-person classroom instruction. Some states have already adopted reforms, and more will consider them in the year ahead. The team at The LIBRE Initiative – a nonprofit dedicated to helping the Hispanic community – is working in a number of states to build support for providing parents and educators with new educational options.

Education savings accounts (ESAs) for example, are a topic of discussion around the country. By allowing educational dollars to be applied to educational expenses, such as tutors, seminars, online instruction, or other options, ESAs recognize that parents and families are best positioned to make education decisions for their children.

Georgia is among the states that have previously considered ESA proposals, and the state legislature will have an opportunity to pass them in the year ahead. For the Hispanic community, which makes up 16% of Georgia’s public school enrollment, this priority is particularly important. Our team will engage with families eager to learn more about the ongoing debate, and how ESAs could help them.

In Virginia, a few thousand students currently take advantage of a program launched in 2013 to provide scholarships to those with limited income and special needs. With governor-elect Glenn Youngkin having endorsed ESAs, expanded educational opportunity is sure to be part of the upcoming education debate. The likely next Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates recently confirmed that education will be a top priority in the state, with an effort to “ensure every student in Virginia gets the high-quality education they deserve.”

In North Carolina, several hundred students participate each year in the Personal Education Savings Account program, which provides a limited financial benefit to some students with disabilities. It is expected that lawmakers may again introduce the Student Success Act, which would allow families to access funds that could be used to address their students’ individual educational needs. Like its neighbors to the north and south, North Carolina may also be the site of a robust education reform debate.

In the state of Arizona, where unfair school funding formulas lead to an inequitable distribution of education resources, there have been growing calls to update the system. As parents engage and make their voices heard, it will be important for legislators and advocates to ensure families have more equal access to a quality education.

While the parameters of the education debate in many states are still taking shape, it’s already clear that our teams in Texas and Colorado will also be engaging on key pieces of legislation with the potential to significantly improve educational opportunities for Hispanics and the broader community. Issues such as charter schools, tuition for immigrant students, and others will be at the fore.

In all of these areas, we should insist on reforms that take a student-centered approach to help ensure that each child has a chance for the best possible education. We know that’s key to building stronger communities and a stronger nation.