School Choice
We strongly promote choice unless it deals with K-12 education?
Each year, more students in the United States are enrolling in schools of choice rather than schools of residence. This can be a difficult process in some states.
Lawsuit in Mississippi
A lawsuit has been filed in Mississippi demanding school choice. [enterprise-journal.com, March 19, 2007]. Parents see it as an issue of school choice. Under Mississippi law, there is no school choice. In Mississippi, students may transfer to another district if both districts agree the student may transfer. However, if the district wants to reject the exodus request and keep the student and the funding for that student, the student is denied transfer. Who would want to transfer?
Example
Public School A has undergone dramatic school improvement, student achievement has made impressive strides, received state awards for changes in reading instruction, stable staff, and has recently earned the Blue Ribbon School Award.
Public School B is a neighboring district 10 miles away with out of control harassment, poor classroom discipline, declining academic scores, large turnover in staff, weak administration, and in financial trouble.
Parents with children in School B request to have their children attend School A for obvious reasons. Why would parents not want the best opportunities for their children? School A is willing to accept the students but School B says, "NO." Why? School B doesn't want to lose state funding. The students must stay in the substandard school.
More and more parents are demanding school choice in Mississippi and the courts may decide this matter at the end of March 2007 for hundreds of students. This issue is not going away.
Why Not Allow Choice?
Many states have the choice option with caveats. Often, transportation is not provided, special needs students may not always be accepted, applications must be filed in January for the following school year, etc.
When parents are polled on why they choose another school, the answers are varied but the following are some often stated:
- Parents work in the neighboring district.
- Baby-sitter is in the neighboring district.
- The sports program is stronger.
- The art and music departments are better quality.
- The academics are stronger.
- Unresolved harassment.
- No friends.
Iowa
Iowa allows students school choice without transportation but paperwork must be approved far in advance. The districts usually approve applications and home district must send funding to the neighboring district to educate the transfer student. The informal reason for transferring to neighboring districts seems to be convenience. However, every citizen may go on the State of Iowa website and review proficiency scores of every public school in the state.
Wisconsin
Vouchers are the vehicle for school choice in this state. Vouchers have been in place for 16 years making Wisconsin the state with the longest running voucher system. How is it going? It is expanding. What makes this choice system unique is that students receive a voucher to attend school at any location. This includes private, public and parochial. In some cases, private has not been better. And, because of "choice", that school loses students and eventually closes. Competition in action.
Canada
Edmonton is not afraid of school choice. In fact, the city embraces it and has created specialty schools. Military academies, art schools, sports schools are but a few choices students and parents have.
Where Else?
There are many other cities and states looking at school choice and considering adopting various versions of it.
Competition Improves Schools
When there is no choice, the motivation can be lax to improve a school. If there are several schools in a city competing for students, the overall quality of all schools often rise. Everyone wants to offer the best product they can to encourage students to attend. Posting scores of school districts is one of the few positive features of No Child Left Behind. Now parents have something tangible to compare. Mississippi will eventually go with the new trend of choice. Choice is the trend for the future.
Related articles: New H.S. Subject: Filmmaking, Vouchers Getting National Attention
Read previous articles on Educational Issues.
Copyright article 2007 Barbara Pytel. All Rights Reserved.
