; Whereas public schools in the United States play a central role in preparing generations of people to participate in our country’s civic society and uphold democratic values and a commitment to equality; Whereas investing in public education is critical to the future health of our economy, our democracy, and our country’s global competitiveness; Whereas the system of public education in the United States includes choice for students and families through more than 3,000 magnet schools, more than 6,500 public charter schools, 35 States with intradistrict open enrollment policies, and 43 States with interdistrict enrollment policies; Whereas investing in public education matters; Whereas the resources Congress invests in public schools make a significant difference, especially for low-income students; Whereas the National Bureau of Economic Research found that, for each 10-percent increase in funding for high-poverty schools, students see a roughly 10-percent increase in future earnings, and in addition, increased investments in high-poverty schools raise educational attainment and reduce adult poverty; Whereas the solution to the inequities in our public education system is to provide a free, high-quality public education for all students with sufficient resources for each public school to give every student access to advanced course­work, arts and music, physical education, safe school buildings, experienced educators, enriching afterschool learning opportunities, career and technical education programs, fully equipped libraries and computer labs, counselors and mental health professionals, and family engagement programs; Whereas without quality public education, there will exist a great divide between the educated and uneducated, corresponding to the divide between the rich and the poor and the strong and the weak; Whereas investing in public education is critical to student health as public schools serve as a lifeline for children who can’t access health services outside of school