February 10, 2022
Dear Senators and Members of Congress,
Independent Women’s Voice, the leading national women’s organization dedicated to expanding support for common sense public policies among women, independents, millennials, and Gen Z, is proud to support the Kids in Classes Act.
The Kids in Classes Act seeks to redirect Title I education funds to students if schools shut down in-person education for more than three days due to COVID-19 or a strike. The act would allow funds to be used for a variety of educational purposes, including curriculum, tutoring outside of the home, private school tuition, and educational therapies for students with disabilities. The bill would support children from low-income households and empower parents to choose the best education options for their children.
Representative Chris Jacobs said: “For two years we have seen the damaging impacts of remote learning on our students. When schools are shut down, our children’s education suffers – this is unacceptable.” Millions of American children have suffered academically, emotionally and physically due to closed schools. Parents should be supported in finding the best education for their children instead of being held hostage by public school systems that are failing their children.
Children from the poorest neighborhoods in the United States have experienced the worst effects of school closures. Even one year of closures will cost ninth graders in these communities a 25% decrease in their earning potential down the road. “Enabling all kids to achieve the American Dream starts with giving all kids the education they deserve—no matter their zip code,” Senator Tim Scott said.
We thank Representative Jacobs and Senators Cassidy, Scott, and Burr for their leadership on this issue, and urge you to join them in their efforts to ensure that education funding supports students.
Respectfully,
Hadley Heath Manning
Director of Policy
Independent Women’s Voice