AFC Education Freedom Advocates to Testify in Congressional Hearing

The American Federation for Children is pleased to announce that two members of AFC staff will represent the cause of expanding education freedom as witnesses for the House Ways and Means Committee on Wednesday, October 25. The hearing, “on Educational Freedom and Opportunity for American Families, Students, and Workers,” will also feature a school choice parent who will discuss how school choice made a difference for her daughter.

Corey DeAngelis, PhD., is a senior fellow with AFC and has been invited to share his knowledge of the research surrounding school choice, its positive effects, and why Congress should expand education freedom nationwide with the Educational Choice for Children Act (ECCA). Hera Varmah is a Florida school choice beneficiary, 2020 Future Leaders Fellow, and Communications and Events Assistant at AFC whose family story shows the power of education freedom.

AFC calls on all members of Congress to prioritize the cause of expanding school choice nationwide and is grateful that the committee has invited AFC team members to discuss this important issue.

Statement from Corey DeAngelis, Senior Fellow, American Federation for Children 

It’s time for families from all states to have access to education freedom. The most advantaged already have some form of school choice. They can already afford to pay out of pocket for private school tuition and fees or move to the nicest neighborhoods that just so happen to be assigned to the best “public” schools. But politicians shouldn’t pull up the ladder from behind themselves and fight against school choice for others. Funding students directly allows more families access to education options. School choice is an equalizer, and Congress should expand it with the Educational Choice for Children Act.”

Statement from Hera Varmah, Communications & Events Assistant, American Federation for Children 

“In the state of Florida, we are proud to host the largest school choice programs in the entire country. Nine out of my twelve siblings received and benefited from the Florida tax credit scholarship, and none of us would be where we are today without education freedom. When people say that school choice doesn’t work, I simply show them my family. I work every day to ensure that other students across our great nation can access the same chances I did, and Congress should act to expand this freedom as much as possible.”

DeAngelis and Varmah will be available to speak to media immediately following the hearing in 1100 Longworth House Office Building.