Facts Are On The Side Of School Choice

Erika Donalds

by Erika Donalds: Opponents of school choice are loud, persistent and well funded.

But in Florida, they are not winning.

The reason is simple: The arguments for school choice are compelling.

Let’s begin with the issue of social justice. Affluent parents always have enjoyed the ability to pick their children’s schools. They can move into neighborhoods with high-quality public schools. They can afford the tuition for top private schools.

Their right to control their children’s education is unquestioned, as is their ability to make informed decisions for their children.

The proponents of public education, including the school districts, teachers unions and the politicians beholden to them, have never objected to these parents exercising their right to choose. In fact, the system has responded by providing excellent public schools in more affluent neighborhoods. That’s what happens when parents have the power to opt out.

Competition works for more affluent families.

The controversy over school choice only erupted when lower-income parents suddenly were granted a semblance of the same right to choose. They gained access to charter schools, virtual schools and private schools through state-sponsored scholarship programs.

These families had been captives of school districts, assigned to district schools with no say in the matter. Their presence in classrooms was taken for granted, as was the state funding that accompanied them. Their lack of power gave bureaucracies no incentive to cater to them. Often the schools in their neighborhoods underperformed academically and contained less qualified teachers and leadership.

That didn’t matter to the districts. These families weren’t going anywhere. If you don’t believe this is true, look at the state of public education prior to education reform, when 60 percent of disadvantaged Florida fourth graders couldn’t even read at a basic level, with a correspondingly dismal graduation rate.

Extending school choice to these parents has been a game-changer. Their power to leave means their schools begin to matter as well.

Choice has been a key strategy in forcing school districts to pay attention to low-income schools.

Opponents say competition drains resources from public education. This is far from the truth.

The fact is, thanks in large part to competition, public schools are performing at an all-time high. Over the past 20 years, as choice expanded, Florida became a national leader in making academic gains and closing the achievement gap. Our graduation rate and our test scores are at all-time highs.

By any measuring stick, choice is working. Find more facts that debunk common myths at Schoolchoicemovement.org.

Opponents of choice would have these parents surrender this power and once again put themselves at the mercy of bureaucracies. Incredibly enough, some have argued that these parents aren’t capable of picking the right school for their child.

The only problem with school choice is that it remains too restricted. Demand exceeds supply of seats in charter schools. About 14,000 parents are on a waiting list for Florida Tax Scholarships. This past legislative session, Florida lawmakers agreed children must not be put on a waiting list for opportunity.

We hope that with the addition of the Family Empowerment Scholarship Program, Florida student success will continue on its path upward.
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Erika Donalds (@ErikaDonalds) is the School Choice Movement’s chairman of the board, a mother of three boys and a former Collier County School Board Member.

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