One of the most difficult, yet important, choices a parent makes is about their child’s education. In my experience, there are four groups of parents.
Those that send their kids to public school, no questions asked.
Those that can afford and send their children to private school, no questions asked.
Those that would never do either and home-school, no questions asked.
Finally, there are those that would prefer to choose what school works best, with their own money, without funding state education programs.
While school choice likely appeals to that last group most, it actually would benefit all of the groups. States that participate in school choice programs make this work for all parents, typically through vouchers. There are 26 voucher programs in 15 states plus the District of Columbia. Vouchers give parents a portion of the public funding set aside for their children’s education to choose private schools.
In recent years, a handful of states have adopted the use of education savings accounts over vouchers, which are the education version of health savings accounts. With an ESA you can use those funds allotted for school choice with a debit card toward various educational expenses, be it textbooks, tutoring, or tuition. It can be customizable, rolled over into the next year if it isn’t spent, and even saved for college.
Several of the nation’s leaders got on board this week to recognize the importance of National School Choice Week.
Every child deserves access to a great education! For many, it will be a public school like my sons. For others, it will be a voucher or charter or home school environment that is best. I trust parents! #NationalSchoolChoiceWeek pic.twitter.com/oZVfIBCKAf
— Scott Walker (@ScottWalker) January 24, 2019
Earlier this week, while I was in DC, Tony with my team attended #Michigan’s #NationalSchoolChoiceWeek event in #Lansing at the state capitol, where he spoke to the crowd, & shared a video message I had recorded for the students, parents, and educators. (1/2) #SchoolChoice #NSCW pic.twitter.com/OHkDbRngKo
— Rep. Paul Mitchell (@RepPaulMitchell) January 25, 2019
How your children are educated is probably one of the most important decisions that parents can make. That is why the choice should rest with them and them alone. @KayColesJames on #NSCW2019 https://t.co/2ZO7JzHpOI
— Heritage Foundation (@Heritage) January 23, 2019
In an op-ed about school choice, Heritage Foundation President Kay Coles James said it showcased the positive work done by school choice in the District of Columbia:
“The D.C. OSP, which provides vouchers to qualifying families, has enabled nearly 11,000 children to find a safe and effective private school that meets their needs. It’s helping some of the most vulnerable children in the District, who come from families with average annual incomes just over $23,000.”
Reasons to continue to press for school choice in every single state abound. The competitive element alone provides incentive for schools in a school choice state to perform to the best of their ability. Because of this element, students benefit most. This peer-reviewed study even found that “charter school competition actually improves student achievement in nearby traditional public schools in the nation’s largest school district — New York City.”
Despite so much evidence that school choice helps families, students, and all schools function better, there are a plethora of states that still don’t offer much school choice.
Texas is one of those states. This last week, supporters across the state met in Austin to rally for the cause. Brendan Steinhauser of EdChoice Texas, told me via email:
Hopefully the overwhelming evidence in favor of school choice, along with weeks like this that capitalize on its importance, will continue to influence lawmakers and activists to press for it until every single state and city offers school choice for families.
Nicole Russell (@russell_nm) is a contributor to the Washington Examiner’s Beltway Confidential blog. She is a journalist who previously worked in Republican politics in Minnesota.
