|
What Does School Choice Mean for Me?
The term "school choice" means giving parents the power and opportunity to choose the school their child will attend. As a parent, you know what is best for your child and should be able to put that knowledge to work to find the perfect fit.
Traditionally, children are assigned to a public school according to where they live, in a one size-fits all model. Many people already have school choice because they can afford to move to a better neighborhood or suburb with better schools, or they can choose to enroll their child in a private school.
Until recently, parents without such means generally had no choice but to send their child to the school assigned to them by the district, regardless of the school's quality or appropriateness for their child. Thanks to changes in both state and federal laws, that's no longer the case.
What is School Choice?
School choice programs encourage parental involvement and high expectations by giving parents the option to educate their children as they see fit. School choice puts the rights of children and parents first over the convenience of the bureaucratic system. School choice holds schools accountable and introduces quality into the system. School choice enables parents and educators to open their own public schools that are free from regulations. But most importantly, school choice means better and more abundant educational opportunities for children, parents and educators that were once only available for those that could afford them.
What Kinds of School Choice Exist Today
Why are Some People Against School Choice?
Some people say school choice is "anti-public education" but that isn't true. School choice is about giving parents - all parents - control of their children's education.
Some unions are against choice because they think it will cost them jobs. Others think it will cost them power. And others are against it because they believe they know what's better for children than parents.
But school choice is not a threat. It's a hope. Choice can mean more jobs for teachers. Power can be shared with families and communities. And for those who think they know best, no one knows what's better for a child than the child's parents.
To learn more about school choice options in your area or to help bring more choices to your community contact The Center for Education Reform at 1-800-521-2118. | 
