
<p>Iowa is the first state to implement a statewide school choice program. ; About time.</p>



<p>One of the best educational reforms is school choice. It has innumerable upsides for the education of our children and no downsides – unless you are among those who depend on the failing public school systems for profit, power, and prestige.</p>



<p>Some folks push back at my contention that the public school systems are failing. ; They tend to ignore the horrific failure of the systems serving mostly minority students in segregated urban ghettoes. ; But even the so-called “better schools” are failing to meet the needs of the students in terms of basic education – and cultural values. ; ;</p>



<p>Students are not taught America’s unique civic history – and the concepts of governance as laid down by the Founders. ; Instead, kids are being indoctrinated with anti-American values contrary to the wishes of their parents. ; We are not passing on the positive values of American culture to the next generation.</p>



<p>The public school system is also failing to meet the challenges of the modern day in terms of basic disciplines. ; American students are falling behind their counterparts in other nations – including such critical global adversaries as China.</p>



<p>The school choice concept has been around for more than 30 years. ; It has had partial victories in terms of the creation of charter schools.  ; They are essentially public schools that are allowed to operate largely independently from the basic public school systems. ; ;</p>



<p>Recognizing the need to address the seriously failing urban public schools, some of the major school boards have created “magnet schools” with higher standards – and better educational output. ; But these have tended to be elitist schools – leaving the public schools without better students as role models. ; In Chicago, the magnet school has become the haven for many white students from elitist families who would otherwise have to attend an inferior neighborhood public school or exclusive private schools.</p>



<p>We have seen the rise of parent anger over the curriculum and operation of their local schools throughout the nation. ; There is concern that the “state” – through the public schools – is taking more control over the education and development of the children than the parents. ; There is a legitimate concern that the education monopoly is teaching values contrary to those of the family at home – undermining parental preferences and authority.</p>



<p>All this can be resolved through real school choice – in which the money dedicated to education is funneled through the parents and students. ; They can then select the educational institutions that meet their needs and desires.</p>



<p>It is appropriate that we financially support the education of our children. ; It is not mandatory that it must be done by giving buildings and union demands a higher priority than parental desires and education, itself. ; It is not productive to place a political agenda – whether it be left-wing woke principles or maintenance of an embedded political structure – ahead of the fundamental needs of the students. ; And that is what is happening in too many of the public school systems. ; Issues like abortion and gender-altering procedures are being provided to underage students without parental knowledge.</p>



<p>Under the current system, only parents of means can afford to send their children to non-public schools. ; Low-income groups are financially trapped in failing and often dangerous schools, with high dropout rates. ; They are literally the means of transferring taxpayer money to union pension funds and political war chests. ; </p>



<p>There is a reason that the education lobby is among the largest in America – and among the greatest contributors to political parties – at least one party – and candidates.</p>



<p>Currently, the educational industry is in charge of education – not parents. ; School choice reverses that reality. ; Rather than run taxpayer money through the political system, the per-pupil subsidy is transferred to the parent to direct to the school of their choice – public, private, or parochial.</p>



<p>Rather than maintain a monopoly of education for the less advantaged, the public schools would be required to compete in the market of parents. ; Parents would not have to fight their local school boards, but simply send their kids to more acceptable schools. ; In order to survive, public schools would have to compete for students and respond to the desires of parents. ; ;</p>



<p>Universal school choice would mean that students would be able to secure the best educational opportunities. ; Parents – through the power of selection – would be able to secure the educational institutions that best represent their interests and values.</p>



<p>Opponents of school choice argue that such a program could violate the separation of Church and state with regard to parochial school. ; Of course, that is nonsense. ; The highly praised Pell Grants are nothing less than a school choice program at the College level. ; Pell grant recipients can apply the money for tuition to such parochial schools as Notre Dame, Loyola, or DePaul universities.</p>



<p>The only losers under school choice systems are the teachers’ unions and the political establishments they generously support with taxpayer money laundered through the dues and Political Action Committees (PACs). ; Each student sitting in a public school is the source of the money from the state. ; </p>



<p>The politician/union self-serving combine would collapse if the kids were not forced to remain in even the worst public schools without consideration of the quality of their education.</p>



<p>I have often stated my belief that the cynical maintenance of failing school systems for millions of mostly minority students is among the most immoral political acts of our times. ; We have literally destroyed the potential of millions of children – condemning them to generational impoverishment and limited career advancement. ; </p>



<p>We have left them in hopeless environments in which crime and drugs become the alternative career paths – blocking their access to America’s opportunity society.</p>



<p>Our duty as parents and a nation is to provide the best educational opportunities for our future generations regardless of race, gender, religion, or economic status.  ; School choice puts children first – ahead of teachers, administrators, unions, buildings, and especially politicians.</p>



<p>It is likely that other states will follow Iowa’s example and craft their own school choice legislation. ; And that will be a good thing for students, parents, and America.</p>



<p>So, there ‘tis.</p>

School Choice is on the Move Thanks to Iowa
