Paul advocates for school choice

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) said Tuesday that parents should have a choice as to where federal dollars are spent for their children’s education.

“Parents should have a role and a voice when it comes to their child’s education,” Paul said ahead of a roundtable discussion on school choice in Chicago. “By nurturing the ideals of choice and individual freedom, we can find education solutions that direct our children toward success.” 

{mosads}Paul, who is seen as a contender for the presidency in 2016, will host a second roundtable on the same topic in Milwaukee on Wednesday.

“These roundtable discussions will focus on raising standards, adding competition and strengthening our nation’s education system — a system that is broken,” Paul said. “We hope these discussions will begin the process of finding a solution.”

Paul serves on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee and has advocated that the federal government leave education matters to states and parents.

Democrats argue there should be federal standards and assistance to ensure all children get a decent education.

Paul says private and charter school ought to be eligible for federal education funding rather than just public schools.