Parental discontent is surging as thousands of schools have returned to virtual learning due to the omicron variant. A recent survey found that 52% of families are considering moving their children to new schools as parents look to escape a public school system ravaged by teacher shortages. National School Choice Week provides the perfect opportunity to continue pushing for parental school choice and build on the progress made by the 18 states that either created or expanded school choice programs in 2021.
During National School Choice Week, parent-led groups will hold over 26,000 events celebrating school choice. In a 2021 Club for Growth event, former Education Secretary Betsy DeVos and former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo argued that expanding school choice will create new opportunities for America’s children.
The impetus behind parental school choice is the belief that parents should decide how their children are educated. Parents know when their children are flourishing academically and socially and how they learn best. Instead of being trapped in one district, parental school choice programs offer parents the freedom to move elsewhere. Parental school choice programs will also force existing public schools to tailor their curriculums to fit the needs of their students. Different states approach school choice differently, but the core of any program is providing families with funding, whether through tax credits, vouchers, scholarships, or other means, which moves with the children to different schools.
When schools shut down for months because of the coronavirus pandemic, many parents grew concerned about the state of the school system. Scientific evidence clearly showed virtual learning was causing students to fall months behind and that students of color were suffering the most, but many schools remained closed. Parents felt trapped in a system that wasn’t prioritizing the needs of their students.
Families are understandably frustrated with the education status quo but feel stuck. Private schools are usually expensive, and moving to a different district isn’t feasible for most families. Parental school choice allows all families to access alternative education options. Almost every state has enacted programs that incorporate elements of parental school choice, but many families still aren’t covered.
Rigorous research supports the efficacy of school choice. A synthesis of the existing academic literature found that students who participate in parental school choice programs perform better academically and have more opportunities than they would have otherwise. Another broad-based analysis showed that parental school choice improves test scores. Similarly, the left-leaning Urban Institute found that students who participated in a Milwaukee voucher program were more likely to enroll and stay in college than their peers.
The evidence in favor of parental school choice cuts across party lines. That is why the parental school choice movement is a diverse coalition that defies political stereotypes. A public opinion survey found that 74% of voters support school choice, including 70% of Democrats, 73% of black voters, and 69% of Hispanic voters. It would be foolish for politicians to continue ignoring the overwhelming majority of people and block access to educational alternatives.
The school choice movement is rapidly growing as more states adopt parental school choice. During National School Choice Week, parental school choice supporters should celebrate their progress while also taking advantage of this opportunity to tell more families about how it can improve their lives.
David McIntosh is president of the Club for Growth.
