School Choice

Parents who can afford it, send their children to private or charter schools. And yet, many elitist politicians, who ensure their own children get the best education money can buy, vote AGAINST school choice for YOUR children. 

Forcing children from lower socioeconomic and minority communities to attend failing public schools while the wealthy and powerful have the freedom to select the school of their choice is anything but fair or equitable.  Prohibiting school choice is racism.  

The way school choice works is that the funds that would typically be spent by a school district would be allocated to a participating family in the form of a voucher to pay partial or full tuition for the child’s private or home school, including religious and non-religious options. In other words, the funding follows the child.  

School choice is a win for students, parents and society. School choice levels the playing field, provides true opportunity for all students, raises the bar for public schools,  benefits all of society and is the American way.  School choice benefits public schools because competition will force these institutions to up-their-game, improve their performance and become accountable to parents, students and taxpayers.   

Across the country, students in charter schools consistently outperform their counterparts in public schools. Hard data and empirical studies back up this claim.  So it's no surprise that , "An estimated one million students are on waiting lists for charter schools," according to economist, historian and social theorist Thomas Sowell. Despite their demand, charter schools are fighting to exist and remain free of government intrusion. Rather than being championed, charter schools are punished for successfully educating America's children. District officials are known to tear down vacant schools rather than allow charter schools to use them. Certain politicians are also trying to "dumb down" charter schools with restrictions and reforms, such as forcing them to teach indoctrination courses.  California officials are also imposing on charter schools the lax disciplinary measures meted out to unruly students in the same way public schools do. It's good for Maryland residents to know what is happening in California's education system because the current Maryland legislature generally follows California's lead.