This week, there were more signs this would be another “year of school choice.” Governors and state Legislatures continued to advance charter schools and other options.
Mississippi: The Magnolia State became the third in the country to offer education savings accounts to special needs students.
Nevada: Tax credit scholarships were signed into law.
Oklahoma: A measure allowing rural charters was signed into law.
Tennessee: Voucher legislation reached 30 co-sponsors.
Texas: Details of the tax-credit scholarship bill emerged.
But it would be wrong to think all of these gains have been pushed a movement marching in lockstep.
Just look at Maryland’s charter school legislation. Would it give schools more flexibility and help them serve more disadvantaged children? Or would it take a “step backwards” that should be avoided?
The truth is, there’s a lot about school choice that remains unproven. We have reasons to be optimistic about systems that empower parents and unleash the creativity of educators. But there are plenty of internal debates worth having.
Quote of the week
We’re not the only game in town. Twenty-five years ago the Hillsborough County Public Schools were the only game in town. Right now parents every single day, they have the choice that they can make and we have to know that, and they can make it with one bad experience. We have to make sure that the parents who choose to send their kids to our schools, that that choice is trusted and that we reciprocate that trust.
— Jeff Eakins, the incoming superintendent of Hillsborough County Public Schools (per the Tampa Bay Times), who may become Florida’s latest district leader to ride the “tsunami of choice.”
We’re hoping for a tsunami of feedback on our coverage of school choice. Send links, tips, gripes and suggestions to [email protected]. Patrick Gibbons contributed to the compilation of this post, and would like to hear from you as well.
