Springfield Standard

Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Energy Policy, and Regulatory Affairs Chairman Eric Burlison (R-Mo.) has announced an upcoming hearing titled “Opening Doors to Opportunity: The Promise of Expanded School Choice and Alternatives to Four-Year College Degrees.” The session will focus on the state of American K-12 education, the effects of school choice programs, and the readiness of college graduates for workforce needs.

According to Burlison, "K-12 school choice programs have yielded significant improvements to students’ quality of life, academic performance, and life outcomes when compared to traditional educational model counterparts. The expansion of school choice programs through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and Money Accounts for Growth and Advancement have given American students more opportunities to pursue alternative track programs that can help meet employment deficits in the economy. I look forward to hearing from experts on how Congress can facilitate the expansion of school choice programs that provide alternatives to failing post-secondary education institutions and have been saving American taxpayers money."

The hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. ET in Room 2247 of the Rayburn House Office Building. Witnesses will include Rachel Greszler from the Economic Policy Innovation Center at The Heritage Foundation; Rebecca Friedrichs, founder of For Kids & Country; Nicole (Nicky) Neily from Parents Defending Education; and Dr. Cody Hirschi, Superintendent of Reeds Spring School District. The event is open to the public and will be livestreamed.

Eric Burlison has represented Missouri’s 7th district in Congress since 2023 after succeeding Billy Long (https://burlison.house.gov/about). Before his current role in Congress, Burlison served in both the Missouri House of Representatives from 2009 to 2017 and in the Missouri Senate from 2019 to 2023 (https://burlison.house.gov/about). Born in Springfield in 1976, he currently resides in Ozark and holds degrees from Missouri State University.