A solution for the Anxious Generation is hiding in plain sight!
Education Freedom Accounts
The latest by Jenny and me is up at Education Next.
Don’t Just Fight Teen Screen Time — Fund the Alternatives
A solution for the Anxious Generation is hiding in plain sight: Education Freedom Accounts
Hmm. What’s this here Education Freedom Account?
Beginning in 2027, Education Freedom Accounts backed by federal tax credits will come online. These accounts were championed by President Trump and are popular with school choice supporters.
The basic idea is simple and attractive: In states that opt to participate, taxpayers will receive dollar-for-dollar credits of up to $1,700 for donating to non-profit organizations that fund student opportunity. Everyone agrees most of this money will be used for private-school tuition.
But right now, a consequential fight is happening quietly inside the U.S. Department of the Treasury over how broad the eligible expenses from these accounts should be.
What are the 2 sides of this fight? We have friends on both sides of this debate, but we PREFER our friends on one particular side….
One camp favors a broad definition of educational benefit. Let the funds support not only the 8 a.m.-to-3 p.m. stuff—private-school tuition, books, tutoring—but also high-quality extracurriculars. If a teen receives a $3,000 scholarship to join a serious club volleyball program, train at a music conservatory, or enroll in a robotics club, and that gets her off the couch and off her phone, that’s success.
Another camp wants a narrow definition. Limit the scholarships to private-school tuition and tightly aligned expenses, like school uniforms. No public school students should receive scholarships for karate school or voice lessons or rock climbing.
CTF favors the broad definition.
Read the whole thing here.
This is a rare Overton Window, a public policy opportunity. Money will be spent. Billions. Many billions. New money, never tapped before.
The only question is whether some money can flow to Languishing Teens to help them flourish 3pm to bedtime, rather than just 8am to 3pm.