Title: A resolution recognizing the necessity of school choice as a tool to empower all parents with the freedom to choose the best educational environment for their children and to combat destructive ideologies like Critical Race Theory promoted by many public schools.
Policy area: Education

Summary:
This resolution recognizes and promotes the importance of parental involvement in the education of children and recognizes the necessity of school choice as a tool to empower parents to choose the best educational environment for their children.

[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 493 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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117th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 493

  Recognizing the necessity of school choice as a tool to empower all 
parents with the freedom to choose the best educational environment for 
their children and to combat destructive ideologies like Critical Race 
                Theory promoted by many public schools.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

             January 19 (legislative day, January 18), 2022

  Mr. Lankford (for himself, Mr. Cramer, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Braun, Mrs. 
 Hyde-Smith, Mr. Cruz, Mr. Rubio, Mr. Boozman, Mr. Inhofe, Mr. Daines, 
and Mr. Wicker) submitted the following resolution; which was referred 
       to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Recognizing the necessity of school choice as a tool to empower all 
parents with the freedom to choose the best educational environment for 
their children and to combat destructive ideologies like Critical Race 
                Theory promoted by many public schools.

Whereas the 14th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States provides 
        every American with equal protection under the law;
Whereas the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States protects 
        Americans against compelled speech;
Whereas the idea that any race, ethnicity, color, or national origin is 
        inherently superior or inferior should not be forced into any required 
        curriculum;
Whereas teaching students that they are guilty or victimized based on the color 
        of their skin is inherently discriminatory and anti-American;
Whereas parents should have the ability to choose a school for their child based 
        on their child's individual needs, academic goals, and personal and 
        religious beliefs;
Whereas the COVID-19 pandemic caused schools across the country to close for a 
        significant amount of time, creating a loss in learning progress and 
        social and emotional skills for many students;
Whereas COVID-19-related school closures and policy changes should ensure that 
        the individualized educational plans for students with special needs and 
        disabilities are met;
Whereas parents are seeking more options for their child's schooling due to 
        learning loss, mask mandates, and COVID-19 vaccine mandates that many 
        States and schools are imposing;
Whereas school choice is more important than ever to ensure that children can 
        attend the school that works best for them and in light of the threats 
        imposed by Critical Race Theory and overreaching mandates regarding 
        COVID-19;
Whereas it is documented that certain school boards are actively silencing the 
        voices of concerned parents and impeding their ability to have a say in 
        their children's education; and
Whereas Attorney General Merrick Garland has abused his office by directing 
        Federal law enforcement to engage in local issues, thus threatening 
        legitimately concerned parents away from advocating for their children's 
        right to a quality and unbiased education: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) recognizes and promotes the importance of parental 
        involvement in their child's education; and
            (2) recognizes the necessity of school choice as a tool to 
        empower all parents with the freedom to choose the best 
        educational environment for their children and to reject the 
        destructive ideologies promoted by many public schools, such as 
        Critical Race Theory.
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