Educational vouchers provide strategic opportunities for Christian colleges and universities.
“As your President, I will be the nation’s biggest cheerleader for school choice.” – Donald Trump
Were these just words?
Not anymore.
Our 45th president nominated Betsy DeVos to head the U.S. Department of Education.
The daughter-in-Law of billionaire Richard DeVos Sr., who co-founded Amway, she and her husband Richard DeVos Jr. have stewarded the family’s fortune into funding initiatives and candidates who promoted school choice, among other conservative ideals. As well, Betsy has served as chairwoman of the board of Alliance for School Choice and the All Children Matter PAC.
Spending millions on successful and not-so successful campaigns, the couple’s efforts have resulted in the creation of educational voucher programs and tax-credit scholarships for private and religious schools while also spearheading charter school growth in various states, but particularly in her home state of Michigan.
If school choice programs around the nation are able to grab hold of Trump’s proposed $20 billion funding bloc or the billions in funds currently offered by individual states, do you see a strategic opportunity for your school?
How could educational vouchers impact American children, churches, and your college?
Momentously!
How could educational vouchers impact children?
Of course, the primary benefit of school choice incentives is that failing schools will no longer lock children into a lifetime of ignorance and failure. On the contrary, children will benefit from the improvements that arise in an environment of competition.
How could educational vouchers impact churches?
Churches would receive a certain amount of funding to start up more private, Christian schools. Even many non-Christian parents have expressed interest in sending their children to schools that promote traditional values, so there will not be a lack of students.
Additionally, parents could receive reduced tuition. How? Since churches don’t need to make a profit, and some may even subsidize their own schools through member donations and parent involvement, operation costs would likely be lower than other schools while also offering a wider variety of programs.
How could educational vouchers impact Christian colleges?
More churches will want to employ people who know how to set up, run and teach in private Christian elementary schools, middle schools and high schools.
So, think strategically.
Begin exploring how your school could develop education programs for teachers and administrators that would facilitate churches in taking advantage of this unprecedented opportunity.
As you do, make sure to avoid the pitfalls of new program development and increase your compliance with federal aid funding regulations.
