The School Choice Movement Is Having A Moment

With legislation introduced or expected in many states, the debate is intensifying between advocates and opponents such as teachers unions.

Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen with children at the state's capitol building on May 30, 2023. Courtesy Nebraska Office of the Governor

This year, the school choice movement is poised to make a huge impact on  American education.

School choice is the idea that families should have the autonomy to select the K-12 educational option that best suits their children rather than being constrained by geographic boundaries or income levels.

This movement is gaining momentum, with states like Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Wyoming, and Idaho expected to expand or introduce new forms of school choice in 2024.

On May 30, 2023, Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen signed the state’s first school choice legislation. A ballot initiative in November will put the choice of whether to maintain or repeal the new legislation to the state’s voters.

Before signing the legislation, Mr. Pillen said Nebraska was one of only two states, alongside North Dakota, with no form of school choice.

In North Dakota, Republican Gov. Doug Burgum vetoed a school choice bill last year that was sustained by the legislature, saying he supported school choice but wanted the legislation to be “more comprehensive.”

The pro-school-choice group “EdChoice” has released a 2024 “superlatives” list.

Louisiana is one state in particular to watch this year. Republican Gov. Jeff Landry has committed to enacting universal Education Savings Accounts (ESAs), which his Democratic predecessor vetoed.

EdChoice said the initiative has support from influential legislators working alongside the Louisiana Education Freedom Coalition.

EdChoice’s “superlative” analysis places the District of Columbia and Florida at the forefront of educational choice in the U.S. despite their differing political bent.

Though not a state, D.C. has the highest overall educational choice participation, with 52 percent of students attending schools outside their assigned zip codes, primarily through charter schools.

In Florida, 48 percent of students are in various forms of educational choice, including magnet and charter schools, private schools, and homeschooling.

Florida leads in private educational choice, with 10.3 percent of students participating in vouchers or education savings accounts.

Arizona follows with about 9 percent of students engaged in private educational choice.

A Parent’s Perspective

Terry Schilling, president of the American Principles Project, is a strong advocate for school choice. He withdrew his own children from public schools in Fairfax County, Virginia, which he said offered poor-quality education.

“It’s extremely concerning that Fairfax County Public Schools is one of the top-rated school districts in the country,” Mr. Schilling told The Epoch Times. “If this is the best we can do, then we are in for a world of hurt in 10 to 20 years.”

Parents face financial and quality challenges when considering private education over public education, Mr. Schilling says.

“The biggest motivation for my support for school choice is that I believe that parents have a fundamental and God-given right to direct the upbringing of their children, especially when it comes to education,” he said.

“The other factor is that I resent having to subsidize failing public schools, which demand more and more funding from families like mine, without any expectation of improving academic achievement.

“Public education officials are entitled, complacent, and more beholden to the teachers unions than they are to the parents they are supposed to serve.”

Mr. Schilling also stresses the importance of not abandoning public schools and giving parents more support within existing systems.

He suggests rebranding the term “school choice” to “parental choice” to reflect more accurately the moral claims involved and calls for increased political efforts to change education policies.

“We need more than catchy slogans and compelling facts—we need to invest in elections with campaign ads at the state and federal level because the state and federal governments have a lot more influence over education policy through the use of grant agreements than the local level does,” Mr. Schilling explained.

“The local level matters, but if they have to choose between receiving millions of dollars from the state and federal governments or changing school policies that could risk that, they are going to choose the funding every time.”

A Teacher’s Perspective

Courtney Maynard, a public charter school teacher on the West Coast, said her support for school choice is informed by her extensive experience in suburban and urban schooling and the systemic issues revealed by remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Parents have the right to choose the best educational path for their children, Ms. Maynard told The Epoch Times. She expressed cautious optimism about the future of school choice.

Like Mr. Schilling, she advocates rebranding the movement.

“I would refer to myself as a parent choice advocate, more so than a school choice advocate,” she said. “My advocacy and beliefs largely stem from the fallout of the school shutdowns that were a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Maynard said her third grader struggled during remote learning.

“It was heartbreaking to watch my academically inclined child suffer through the ridiculous charade of education and I realized traditional education is not designed in the best interest of all children,” she said.

“This attitude extends into my being a proponent of general school choice because parents should be the most integral stakeholders within their child’s education and school choice is one more venue that can make that happen.”

Ms. Maynard said she thinks that legislative lobbying efforts ought to be directed toward more school funding and ways to give parents more control over their children’s education.

She noted that children in underperforming schools can benefit from school choice but that social stratification can create challenges.

“In many instances, school choice is considered a conservative effort because public school teachers unions are so powerful and well funded,” she said. “When we defund lobbyist efforts and refund schools, we may see some change.”

The NEA’s Stance

The National Education Association (NEA) is the largest labor union in America, and it opposes school choice.

The NEA argues that voucher programs, under various guises, divert funding from public schools to private institutions, thus undermining the quality of public education.

On its website, the union says that vouchers are “rooted in segregation and racism,” do not support students with disabilities, and “fail to protect the human and civil rights of students.”

President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden speak at a National Education Association event at the White House in Washington on July 4, 2023. Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images

“Voucher programs can take different forms from state to state,” the NEA says. “These programs hide behind euphemisms such as ‘Opportunity Scholarships,’ ‘Tax Credit Scholarships,’ ‘Education Savings Accounts,’ and ‘Tuition Tax Credits’” but they all function the same way.

“Public funds intended for public schools are diverted to private schools.”

NEA argues that “vouchers” take “scarce funding from public schools,” which serve “90 percent of America’s students,” giving it to private schools “that are not accountable to taxpayers.”

They argue that this exacerbates disparities, leaving the most vulnerable students in underfunded public schools.

NEA argues that by enabling families to select schools based on specific criteria, it creates homogenous educational environments that lack diversity. This segregation, they argue, could have long-term effects on social cohesion and the ability of future generations to navigate a diverse society.

NEA further argues that there is “zero” statistical evidence that “voucher programs improve overall student success,” and that some programs have been shown to have a negative effect.

Looking Ahead

As legislatures in many states debate school choice, the issue is poised for significant developments in 2024.

The movement’s success hinges on a delicate balance of legislative support, grassroots advocacy, and increased public awareness.

Advocates like Mr. Schilling call for a strategic shift toward “parental choice” and more investment in political campaigns. Educators like Ms. Maynard underscore sustainable funding and a collaborative effort to transcend political divisions.

Meanwhile, teachers unions like the NEA and the American Federation of Teachers remain vehemently opposed.

In any case, the school choice debate has become a pivotal aspect of the broader conversation in America on educational reform.