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Owens and witnesses debate school performance, DEI spending and accountability in College Cost Reduction Act hearing
Summary
Rep. Burgess Owens said U.S. student outcomes lag despite high per‑pupil spending, urged parental choice and accountability. Witnesses criticized diversity, equity and inclusion contracts and said the College Cost Reduction Actwould reward institutions that enroll and graduate low‑income students, not deter them.
Congressman Burgess Owens, the vice chairman of the committee, opened a hearing on the state of American education by saying the country is spending more per pupil than nearly every industrialized nation while many students fail basic reading and math standards.
"We pay more per child than any industrialized country except Luxembourg, and yet 60% of our fourth graders, 70% of our eighth graders are failing based on the NAEP reading and math proficiency scores," said Congressman Burgess Owens, vice chairman of the committee from Utah. He urged "correction through innovation" and said parental choice, including voucher programs, should be part of the response.
The hearing brought testimony about district spending on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) consultants and the accountability…
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