Education is one of the most critical components of creating a successful, happy, and prosperous future which is why school choice is not just a critical policy but is also a lifeline for families seeking the best outcomes for their children.
As a mother of five, I have always believed that children are the cornerstone of our society and investing in their education is paramount to building a strong nation. I have seen firsthand how every child is unique, with distinct needs and aspirations that can affect their ability to learn in environments that are not best suited to them. It is our responsibility as parents to ensure that they have access to the educational opportunities that best fit them.
Because of that, I have dedicated my life to advocating for school choice, particularly here in Arizona. While our state has made great positive strides in school choice access in recent years, it is important to recognize that until every child is able to attend the school that is best for them, there is more that needs to be done.
My journey into the realm of school choice began with a realization of its necessity through my personal experience. While my two eldest children thrived in our local public school and received a more than suitable education experience, the same could not be said for my younger children. After my husband’s unexpected passing away, stability became my utmost priority for them, but unfortunately, the public school in our district lacked the sense of community and support that we were seeking. I wanted my children to attend a school where they could experience a close-knit community and a sense of belonging and unwavering support as our family faced significant changes and uncertainties.
It was during this time that I came upon certain tax credit programs in Arizona that offered alternatives to traditional public schooling. All that I learned about these programs at that time over a decade ago came from a pamphlet that I received from the private school where my daughter had attended and finished 2
nd grade prior to my husband’s death. It was immediately striking to me that there was a glaring lack of information available to parents facing similar dilemmas. At that time, I felt overwhelmed and isolated in my pursuit of the best education for my children.
I was one of the lucky ones. I was able to take advantage of these programs and over time come up with the means to enable my children to have access to the education options that were best for each of them. The same cannot be said for all families facing this immense obstacle.
Driven by this experience, I embarked on my mission to empower families within my network to navigate the complexities of school choice. Through the organization that I lead today, we strive to raise awareness and provide families with the knowledge that they need to make informed decisions and take advantage of all the options before them when choosing an educational environment for their children.
Even still, while Arizona families may be in a better place now than they were a decade ago, we cannot rest until nationwide, all families are able to access school choice to set their children up for optimum success. Thankfully, there is new legislation in D.C. that could supercharge Arizona families’ access to educational choice for their children: the Educational Choice for Children Act (ECCA). This legislation would enable individuals and businesses to contribute to nonprofit scholarships, empowering parents to choose public, private, or technical trade schools that align with their children’s needs.
If legislation like this had been passed when I was choosing the right school for my younger children, my choices and my decision-making process would have been far simpler, and a significant weight would have been taken off my shoulders. I want that to be the case for all families who are in the same position that I once was in. By taking steps toward educational freedom at the national level, we can pave the way for brighter futures for children across our country, the United States of America.
I hope to see Arizona lawmakers support the ECCA and continue to work toward solutions to empower all families to select the best education option for their children and empower them to reach their fullest potential.
Miriam P. Antolik is the founder of School Tuition Organization 4 Kidz, an organization that provides Arizona families with the financial tools to achieve school choice for their children.
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