Sen. Mike Lee has introduced legislation that would increase tax exemptions for states adopting school choice programs. When he introduced the bill, Lee said, “It is the fundamental right of parents to choose the educational path that is most suitable for their children.” Lee is correct. However, the carrot and stick approach that he is…
In a surprisingly objective article, Michael J. Petrilli examines the claim that school choice programs will kill government schools. Petrilli, who admits that he isn’t “crazy” about universal school choice programs, concludes that “we should root for the myth about the ‘death of public schools’ to die.” Petrilli cites two recent reviews of studies that…
The Texas Tribune reports that private schools across the state are making expansion plans with the prospect of the legislature approving education savings accounts. One of the chief arguments against school choice, particularly in rural and low-income communities, is an insufficient supply of private schools. However, as the article demonstrates, if the demand for private…
Critics of school choice programs often argue that taxpayer money shouldn’t be used for private schooling. Such arguments evade the fact that parents are taxpayers too. Taxpayer money does not magically appear in government coffers. It is money that has been taken from individuals and businesses. It is money taken from parents and non-parents alike….
An editorial in the school paper for the University of Texas at Arlington provides an interesting example of the types of conclusions that can result when one drops context. The editorial, which opposes school choice, argues that without education standards imposed by government officials, parents will be given the responsibility of holding schools accountable. Without…
The critics of school choice programs often point out that most parents are satisfied with their local government school. Most polls find that 70 percent or more of parents believe their child is receiving an adequate education. This means that 30 percent of parents aren’t satisfied with their child’s government school. Those parents want alternatives…
When rights are ascribed to groups, conflicts necessarily result when non-members of the favored group become victims of the alleged rights. This is true no matter which group is favored, including parents. An illuminating example comes from Florida, where advocates of “parents’ rights” have achieved many legislative victories, including an expanded school choice program. Instead…
Stacy Davis Gates, the president of the Chicago Teachers Union, is being criticized for enrolling her son in a private school while opposing school choice programs. Gates has defended her hypocrisy by claiming that she and her husband were forced to enroll their son in a “private high school so he could live out his…
Opponents of school choice frequently claim that those who support vouchers and similar programs are racist. As one example, American Federation of Teachers president Randi Weigarten recently compared advocates of “parents’ rights” to the segregationists of the 1950s. Chicago Teachers Union president Stacy Gates Davis has called private schools “segregation academies.” Both evade the fact…
A major criticism of school choice programs is that private schools receiving tax dollars are not held accountable to taxpayers. Indeed, a Texas House committee recently released a report that recommended that transparency and accountability be a part of any school choice program. If tax dollars are going to be funneled to private schools, the…
School choice programs empower parents to select the school that is best for their children. And those programs are creating a market for the education innovators. One example is OptimaEd, a Florida based company offering a virtual-reality school. Students at the school wear a virtual-reality headset off and on for about three hours per day….
On September 1, a new Texas law prohibiting homeowners’ associations (HOA) from banning renters from using housing vouchers. Many, including The Dallas Morning News, are calling this a “moral stand” against racism. It is nothing of the sort. In fact, it is an immoral attack on property rights. An HOA typically enforces deed restrictions within…