SLT Republican Women host speaker on School Choice Initiative during Lincoln-Reagan Dinner.

On February 10. 2022 approximately 40 members and associates of the South Lake Tahoe Republican Women met at Casey’s Restaurant for the annual Lincoln-Reagan Dinner. The room was filled with members who had a chance to meet with State Senate Candidate Steven Bailey, El Dorado County 5th District Supervisor Candidate Tamara Wallace, and El Dorado County Sheriff Candidate Jeff Leikauf.

President Geri Grego introduced the featured speaker for the evening dinner, Laura Chiappe, who spoke about the efforts being made statewide to qualify an initiative petition on the November 2022 ballot for "School Choice."

She stated that school choice (whether charter, private, or parochial schools) must be given to California parents who want to play a greater role in the education of their children.  Chiappe noted “there is a growing concern by parents that many school leaders and educators want parental involvement removed from the curriculum taught to their children. This Educational Fund would follow the choice made by the parents for the student, and any savings would follow the student through college.”

The initiative would require the State to allocate an equal amount of funds for each student’s education and the parents could choose to keep their students in public schools or choose another education option. The money would follow the choice made for the student. The proponents are seeking help to get the necessary signatures to qualify the initiative on the ballot.

The ballot initiative title by the State Attorney General is “REQUIRES STATE FUNDING OF RELIGIOUS AND OTHER PRIVATE SCHOOL EDUCATION INITIATIVE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT AND STATUTE.” For more information about the initiative and how one can help, interested persons can go to: www.californiaschoolchoice.org or contact Laura Chiappe at eldorado@cascf.com.

The South Lake Tahoe Republican Women, Federated meets most months on the second Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. For more information, please email us at: solaketahoerepublicanwomen@gmail.com.