Chicago City Wire

Steve Cortes, President of the League of American Workers, has expressed concerns about the state of education in the United States. He said 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.

"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..."

Recent developments in U.S. school choice include expansions at both federal and state levels concerning voucher and charter programs. According to reports from Education Week, The Washington Post, Reuters, and the Times of India, a new reconciliation law has introduced a federal tax-credit scholarship program. This program offers donors up to $1,700 in relief to fund private and public school scholarships. Additionally, Texas has implemented a universal voucher program valued at 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, sparking 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% attend charter schools, 6.8% attend private schools, 4.9% attend magnet schools, 2.2% participate in choice programs, and 4.7% are homeschooled. These figures underscore the continued prevalence of public schools while highlighting the increasing presence of charters and homeschooling within the educational landscape.

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 further noted that 83% of charters matched or outperformed district schools in reading proficiency, with 75% achieving similar results in math. Additional research from the Fordham Institute suggests that competition from charter schools can increase graduation rates by 2–4 percentage points and reduce absenteeism in public schools.

Cortes is recognized as a conservative political strategist, media commentator, and author who currently leads the League of American Workers according to Wikipedia. A Georgetown University graduate with a background as a financial strategist spanning 25 years, he served as a senior spokesman for Donald Trump’s presidential campaigns in both 2016 and 2020 before advising Ron DeSantis’s Political Action Committee (PAC) for his 2024 campaign. Cortes has appeared as a commentator on networks such as CNBC, Fox News, and CNN and authored books including "Against the Herd" and "Bad Hombres."