Subcommittee Chairman Eric Burlison (R-Mo.) has announced a forthcoming hearing titled “Opening Doors to Opportunity: The Promise of Expanded School Choice and Alternatives to Four-Year College Degrees.” Scheduled for Wednesday, September 17, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. ET in the Rayburn House Office Building, the session will explore how alternative education pathways can improve student outcomes and address workforce gaps. Research indicates that K-12 school choice initiatives have enhanced academic performance and reduced costs compared to traditional public schooling models. Lawmakers will assess the effectiveness of recent legislation, including the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and Money Accounts for Growth and Advancement, which aim to broaden access to vocational training and non-college career routes. Witnesses include Rachel Greszler of the Heritage Foundation, Rebecca Friedrichs of For Kids & Country, Nicky Neily from Parents Defending Education, and Dr. Cody Hirachi, Superintendent of Reeds Spring School District. The discussion will focus on policy strategies to strengthen education systems and better align them with economic demands.
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Burlison Announces Hearing on Reversing the Decline of the American Education System
WASHINGTON––Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Energy Policy, and Regulatory Affairs Chairman Eric Burlison (R-Mo.) today announced a hearing titled “Opening Doors to Opportunity: The Promise of Expanded School Choice and Alternatives to Four-Year College Degrees.” American K-12 education had been declining for decades before the expansion of school choice programs that increased students’ performance and outcomes and lowered costs for taxpayers. During the hearing, members will examine the benefits of expanded school choice programs and assess the current state of post-secondary education institutions that fail to produce college graduates prepared to fill the United States economy’s needs. Members will also examine new educational opportunities created under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. n n“K-12 school choice programs have yielded significant improvements to students’ quality of life, academic performance, and life outcomes when compared to traditional educational model counterparts. The expansion of school choice programs through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and Money Accounts for Growth and Advancement have given American students more opportunities to pursue alternative track programs that can help meet employment deficits in the economy. I look forward to hearing from experts on how Congress can facilitate the expansion of school choice programs that provide alternatives to failing post-secondary education institutions and have been saving American taxpayers money,” said Subcommittee Chairman Burlison. n nWHAT: Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Energy Policy, and Regulatory Affairs hearing titled “Opening Doors to Opportunity: The Promise of Expanded School Choice and Alternatives to Four-Year College Degrees” n nDATE: Wednesday, September 17, 2025 n nTIME: 10:00 a.m. ET n nLOCATION: 2247 Rayburn House Office Building n nWITNESSES: n nRachel Greszler, Economic Policy Innovation Center, The Heritage Foundation n nRebecca Friedrichs, founder, For Kids & Country n nNicole (Nicky) Neily, Parents Defending Education n nDr. Cody Hirachi, Superintendent, Reeds Spring School District