Tim Scott

How The Left’s School Closures Impacted Education

When schools closed their doors at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, my Republican colleagues and I knew that students had to get back in the classroom as soon as possible. Unfortunately, Democrats chose to prioritize politics over the academic well-being of the nation’s children.  Democrats kept schools closed for nearly two years to appease big labor unions, and students paid the price. 

New test scores from the ‘Nation’s Report Card’ showed the frightening results of failed Democratic leadership over the past two years. The report noted that eighth-grade reading scores dropped by three points, while math scores fell a whopping eight points. 

Since 2019, every state has shown a decline in math scores. In fact, 38% of all eighth-graders tested below basic achievement levels in math. 

Worst of all, students who were already behind academically were hit hardest. Rather than giving struggling students the support they needed, Democrats locked the classroom doors and threw away the key for two years.

This is heartbreaking and unacceptable. Now, we have to work together to course correct. 

Republicans have a plan to empower parents with the solutions their children need to get back on track. The GOP is the Great Opportunity Party, it is the Party of Parents, it is the Party of School Choice. Giving parents more choices when it comes to education means giving their children a better shot at success. Never again can we allow students’ academic futures to be threatened by politically-motivated big labor unions. 

In their spending packages, Democrats allocated more than $180 billion to school systems nationwide to help teachers and students adjust to pandemic restrictions. But, two years later, nearly $150 billion of those funds are still unspent. Bureaucrats and labor leaders prove time and again that they cannot fix the education crisis they created. Instead, these unspent funds should be reallocated to support school choice initiatives to help students recover.

Earlier this year, I introduced the Kids in Classes Act to ensure students are never again left behind due to school closures or strikes instigated by big labor. This bill would allow families with students in Title I schools to repurpose unused federal education funds for in-person learning. 

I sincerely believe education is the closest thing to magic in our nation. With a quality education, there is nothing that is out of reach. Children are the most valuable resource this country has, and we need to ensure that we’re fighting every day to give them that chance to succeed. Enabling all kids to achieve the American Dream starts with giving all kids the education they deserve—no matter their zip code.