Jefferson Reporter

U.S. Senator Katie Britt participated in U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy’s Education Disruptor Roundtable to highlight leaders driving change in education. The roundtable featured Ruben Morris, founder of the Alabama Aerospace and Aviation High School (AAHS) in Bessemer, along with Senators Tommy Tuberville and Joni Ernst.

“I really believe that no child’s zip code should determine their opportunity, and the work you’re doing is making that a reality and also showing one size does not fit all,” said Senator Britt. “Parents and families know best, and they should be in control of their child’s education – whether that be through utilizing their local traditional public schools, a charter school, a public magnet school, a private school, a trade school, or other options that are available.”

Senator Britt emphasized the importance of educational freedom for unlocking opportunities for children across America. “Prioritizing educational freedom nationwide would unlock the American Dream for millions of children, including in communities across the great state of Alabama,” she stated.

Addressing Ruben Morris directly, Senator Britt noted his impact on the community: “I’d like to extend a special welcome to Mr. Morris... Your establishment of the Alabama Aerospace and Aviation High School in Bessemer that opened a little bit over two years ago is a gamechanger for that community.”

The roundtable included panelists such as Kelby Woodard from Cristo Rey Network; Amar Kumar from KaiPod Learning; Steve Grubbs from VictoryXR; and Heidi Vasiloff from Great Hearts Nova.

Senator Britt has been an advocate for high-quality education since taking office. She believes families should have the power to choose the best educational path for their children. This roundtable discussion comes amid concerns about literacy rates among fourth and eighth graders in America.

In Alabama, efforts like the Alabama Literacy Act have shown progress by reducing third-grade reading deficiencies from 17% to 9%. The state continues to lead in implementing science-based literacy resources.

Senator Britt cosponsored resolutions designating September 2024 as National Literacy Month and January 21-27, 2024 as National School Choice Week. She is also part of the School Choice Caucus.

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