My community will never forget when Donald Trump promised in 2024 to deliver "universal school choice." It resonated with millions of Americans, especially black and Hispanic families. Following school-choice breakthroughs in GOP-led states, the former and future president vowed to support an overwhelmingly popular reform, leading to an executive order and a new federal tax-credit program.
But two years later Republicans are failing families in Mississippi while ignoring public opinion on school choice. In one of the redder states in the nation, a state Senate committee last week shot down a major school-choice bill that had passed the state House in mid-January. Killing this bill took a mere 90 seconds and a voice vote. Mr. Trump ought to demand that Mississippi Republicans do what's right.
As someone who works with black churches and schools in Mississippi, I can tell you black families are upset. Neighboring states have passed universal school choice. Arkansas led the way in 2023. Alabama and Louisiana followed in 2024. Tennessee took action last year. Mississippi's Republicans haven't even passed smaller reforms, despite a nearly 2-to-1 majority in the state Senate.
The bill the Senate just killed would have created education savings accounts for only 12,500 students, with small increases in subsequent years, to pay for private schools or home schooling. Although a step in the right direction, it's a far cry from the universal school choice other states now enjoy. More than 440,000 students attended public schools in Mississippi in 2022. Every single one of them deserves the chance to attend the school that's best for them.
No one would benefit more from school choice than minority communities in Mississippi. While the state has impressively raised educational standards in recent years, black and Hispanic kids are still more likely to attend the lowest-performing schools. More than half of black families in the state backed universal school choice in 2024. But neither Democrats nor Republicans have listened to the will of the people.
Something in the Magnolia state needs to change. Maybe it will happen in the 2027 elections when every member of both houses of the Mississippi Legislature runs for re-election. About three-quarters of GOP primary voters in Mississippi backed the school-choice bill that just failed, according to a recent poll from the American Federation for Children. They may want to rally around new leaders who will actually fight for families and freedom. That's what Texas voters did in 2024, and now that state has universal school choice, too.
Nothing would help more than attention from Mr. Trump. He should call on Mississippi Republicans to reverse their foolish decision. Even better, he could tell them to get with the program or make room for leaders who will. That message could be the spark that lights a thousand pro-school-choice primary challengers worthy of a presidential endorsement.
Mr. Robertson is senior pastor of the Rock Church in Harrisburg, Pa., and founder and CEO of Black Pastors United for Education.