Source: United States Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND)
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and Tim Scott (R-SC) introduced the Raising Expectations with Child Opportunity Vouchers for Educational Recovery (RECOVER) Act to empower parents to solve the learning loss crisis facing today’s students.
“Schools received hundreds of millions of dollars during the COVID-19 pandemic and a massive portion still remains unspent as children across the country struggle to catch up in school. The RECOVER Act gives this money back to parents and empowers them to make the best decisions for their child’s education and future,” said Senator Cramer.
“States and school districts have only spent a fraction of the education funds they received through the Democrats’ American Rescue Plan — leaving kids helpless as they struggle to recover from academic setbacks,” said Senator Scott. “It’s clear that big-government bailouts won’t solve our education crisis. That’s why the RECOVER Act allows those funds to flow to a much better steward: parents. I urge all of my colleagues to join me on this bill that would empower parents to help their kids thrive once again.”
Joining Senators Cramer and Scott in introducing the RECOVER Act are Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), Rick Scott (R-FL), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Mike Crapo (R-ID), and Thom Tillis (R-NC).
Background:
As of May, states and school districts had yet to spend 93% of the education funding allocated to them under the Democrats’ American Rescue Plan Act. This legislation would allow states and school districts to use those unspent funds to issue Child Opportunity Scholarships directly to parents. These scholarships, targeted for low-income families, could be put towards educational opportunities, including:
- Tutoring services;
- Private school tuition;
- Books and other curriculum materials;
- Testing fees; and
- Educational therapies for children with disabilities.
- Click here for bill text.