| “This bill kills school choice.” |
Private school and independent charter lobbies |
Parents still choose any school they want. The only change is that federal tax dollars stay in public schools with transparency and accountability. |
| “This is a federal takeover of education.” |
State autonomy advocates |
No state is forced. This is Spending Clause conditioning: if you take federal money, you meet federal standards. States can opt out if they refuse the deal. |
| “It’s too costly to feed every child.” |
Food industry vendors, fiscal hawks |
Universal meals cut administrative waste, eliminate stigma, and improve attendance. USDA reimbursements and à la carte revenues offset costs. |
| “This undermines collective bargaining.” |
Some teacher unions |
Existing CBAs are untouched. Future agreements simply align to market benchmarks so teachers are finally paid what they’re worth. |
| “Privacy rules will stifle innovation.” |
EdTech and data vendors |
Innovation doesn’t require exploiting kids’ data. This bill bans surveillance and planned obsolescence, while still allowing durable, student‑first tech. |
| “Dashboards and audits are unfunded mandates.” |
District bureaucracies |
The Act funds compliance, phases it in, and makes results public. If you’re doing your job, dashboards are proof, not punishment. |
| “This is radical and partisan.” |
Ideological partisans |
This isn’t left or right. It’s receipts, dashboards, and results: kids fed, teachers paid, parents informed. The opposition is defending carve‑outs, not children. |