Rep. Eric Burlison Advocates for School Choice and Career Training Alternatives

Declining Education Standards and Economic Impact

• 💡 Plato's quote highlights education's foundational role, yet American education has seen flatlined reading and math proficiency for 25 years, jeopardizing prosperity.
• 🎯 The traditional K-12 system's success is narrowly measured by college admissions, while the promise of college as a guaranteed path to prosperity is waning.
• ⚠️ Half of the 2023 graduate class are in jobs not requiring a degree, as AI rises and entry-level white-collar positions disappear, leading to a surplus of graduates with degrees of little value.

The Need for Educational Alternatives

• 💰 The economy is starved for skilled workers in manufacturing, trades, and engineering, areas where higher education often falls short.
• 📈 The average salary after completing a trade apprenticeship is $11,000 more than that of recent college graduates, highlighting the value of vocational training.
• 🚀 President Trump and congressional Republicans have supported initiatives like the 'One Big Beautiful Bill Act' to incentivize scholarships and parental choice in education.

School Choice as Economic Vitality

• ✅ School choice is presented not as a theory, but as freedom, competition, and accountability, vital for the economy.
• 🛠️ The need for alternative choices extends beyond K-12 to post-secondary education, offering viable opportunities compared to underperforming four-year college programs.
• 🌟 American youth, families, and the economy demand educational and career training choices that better fit students, families, and community needs.