West Cook News

Steve Cortes, President of the League of American Workers, has raised concerns about the state of education in the United States. He emphasized that "too many children remain stuck in failing government schools" and promoted a new documentary highlighting school choice alternatives. This statement was made on X, a social media platform.

"New documentary dropping," said Cortes. "LIBERATE FAMILIES: the School Choice Imperative. Far too many American children are trapped in failing Govt school monopolies. See how an inspiring inner city school provides real education, love, and HOPE..."

According to recent reports from Education Week, The Washington Post, Reuters, and the Times of India, there have been significant developments in U.S. school choice policies at both federal and state levels. A new reconciliation law has introduced a federal tax-credit scholarship program providing donors with up to $1,700 in relief to fund private and public school scholarships. In Texas, a universal voucher program has been passed, offering up to $10,000 per student annually. Florida lawmakers have also approved a measure allowing charter schools to share space rent-free in public school buildings, which has intensified debates over equity and funding.

National enrollment data from EdChoice’s 2025 enrollment tracker indicates that 74.8% of American students attend traditional public schools. Meanwhile, 6.6% are enrolled in charter schools, 6.8% in private schools, 4.9% in magnet schools, 2.2% participate in choice programs, and 4.7% are homeschooled. These figures underscore the continued dominance of public schools while also highlighting the growing role of charters and homeschooling.

A study conducted by Stanford's Center for Research on Education Outcomes (CREDO) in 2023 found that students attending charter schools gained an average of six additional days of math learning and sixteen additional days of reading annually compared to their peers in traditional public schools. The report noted that "83% of charters matched or outperformed district schools in reading," while "75% did so in math." Additional research from the Fordham Institute suggests that charter competition can increase graduation rates by 2–4 percentage points and reduce absenteeism in public schools.

Cortes is described as a conservative political strategist, media commentator, and author who currently leads the League of American Workers according to Wikipedia. A graduate of Georgetown University with extensive experience as a financial strategist, he served as a senior spokesman for Donald Trump’s campaigns in 2016 and 2020 and later advised Ron DeSantis’s Political Action Committee (PAC) for his 2024 campaign. Cortes has appeared as a commentator on major networks such as CNBC, Fox News, and CNN and authored books including "Against the Herd" and "Bad Hombres."