Viewpoint: All Oklahoma families can benefit from empowerment accounts — not just the rich
State legislators are currently considering a bill, Senate Bill 1647, that would allow Oklahoma parents to redirect a portion of their state education tax dollars to support private school tuition. Under the bill, sometimes called the Oklahoma Empowerment Act, parents would be the recipients of Oklahoma Empowerment Accounts, which would contain at least $3,500 per child. If parents choose to send their child to public school, the money would go to fund the public school system (as it does now). If they choose to send their child to a private school, the money would be used to pay some or all of the tuition. Either way, the money follows the child.
Critics have repeatedly made two claims about SB 1647 that need to be further examined. First, they argue that $3,500 is not enough for a family of limited means to send their child to private school, where tuition can be closer to $20,000 annually. Second, they argue that this bill is somehow damaging to racial minorities. To understand why both arguments are wrong, look no further than Infinity Generation Generals Preparatory School, where I serve as school leader.
Infinity Generation is a small Oklahoma City nonprofit, private school that was founded to serve kids whose needs were going unmet in traditional public schools. The majority of our students are racial minorities. Some students have learning disabilities or physical disabilities. Some students were getting in trouble at their local public school. Other kids just fare better with smaller class sizes. While we believe in academic rigor in a classroom setting, we also emphasize learning directly from community experiences and engaging in practical activities. Our students can enjoy classes in sewing, cooking, vertical farming, debate and physical education. We endeavor to draw out each student’s unique talents by offering a variety of environments in which they can thrive.
We do everything we can to keep our school affordable, including helping families to obtain scholarships. Our tuition is $1,200 a month, or $12,000 for the 10 months we are in operation each year. However, no parent pays more than $365 per month, or $3,650 per year. To close the gap between our tuition and what parents pay, we rely on a combination of grants, charitable giving and state-backed programs like the Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarships program for students with disabilities.
SB 1647, the Oklahoma Empowerment Act, would further reduce the cost of attending Infinity Generation, reducing tuition to just a few hundred dollars a year. That is within reach for most working-class families. Broadening our base of potential students would allow us to serve more families, increase the services and support we offer to our students, and continue to grow as a school. It would allow us to offer a high-quality and unique educational experience to more children, most of whom seek us out because they are not thriving in their local public school. Most of our students are not from rich families that opponents of SB 1647 seem to think are the main beneficiaries of Empowerment Accounts. Our students need an educational environment to meet their learning and self-improvement needs. That’s not just a privilege, it is a rightful expectation in the 21st century.
Our Legislature has a chance to make a real impact in Oklahoma’s education landscape this year by passing SB 1647. All Oklahoma families can benefit from having choices and financial flexibility when choosing their school. Those who will benefit most, however, are students from families that would not otherwise be able to afford the option that is the best fit for them. If lawmakers care about those families, they can show their support by voting yes on SB 1647.
Gina Darby is a wife, mother, entrepreneur and Army veteran.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Viewpoint: Empowerment accounts can benefit all Oklahoma families
