by Wyoming Liberty Group
When you read the news, it's often bad news: war, division, tragedy. So, when there is something worth celebrating, let's mark the occasion. And we do that now, with National School Choice Week, feted across our great country, including in our own Cowboy State, from January 26 to February 1.
The idea of National School Choice Week is to honor and raise awareness about the various kinds of educational options open to parents and their children. You may notice, as a part of the celebration in nearly 40 states, including Wyoming, school fairs, gubernatorial proclamations, capitol celebrations and other showcases. About 55 nonprofits are involved in what's being touted as the largest celebration of educational opportunity in the United States.
The term, school choice, is bandied about a lot these days. But what exactly does it mean? In basic terms, it's the idea that families have the flexibility to select the best educational fit for their children from kindergarten to 12th grade. Because, let's face it, every child is not only different, they also learn differently—as all parents know. That's why the public school in the neighborhood may not be quite right; that's why there are other options, such as charter schools and homeschooling, for the estimated 140,000 children in Wyoming. We don't have other forms of school choice, including magnet schools or private school choice programs. But we have our own unique benefits and challenges here.
Indeed, Wyoming has recognized as much with our Education Savings Account Program; it gives $6,000 to families as an education savings accounts if their children qualify; they must be at least four years old and it includes those still in high school. In addition, families qualify if their household incomes are at or below 150 percent of the federal poverty level. Families can use the funds for a wide range of such things as tuition and tutoring.
But school choice isn't about money. It's about embracing a philosophy that empowers parents and gives them the freedom to select the best educational fit for their children. What's more, school choice fosters innovation; it's the result of schools competing with other schools to try to satisfy the needs of their students. And competition is a good thing, isn't it?
School choice is also about recognizing that children are unique and each learns differently, whether they have special needs, interests, or learning disabilities.
What's more, it should be noted that school choice is not an attempt to remove public schools from the equation. It's about improving the education of our children and holding schools accountable for how they teach our children.
Let's face it. Families often choose where to live based on how well the schools perform. That, in turn, can encourage people to stay in Wyoming, which can of course improve our economy with spending and job opportunities. Isn't this what we all want?
Charter schools, for instance, have their own benefits in Wyoming; they are public schools and yet, they have more flexibility to operate beyond the public school system when it comes to such important matters as curriculum. And for what it's worth, charter schools tend to succeed more than regular public schools; for instance, charter school students graduate at a rate that is about 10 percent higher than children in regular public schools. In addition, studies show that underprivileged students succeed at higher rates in charter schools than in conventional public schools.
Much of the same can be said of the success of children who are homeschooled. With their individualized learning, they often outperform their peers who attend regular public schools.
As a result, we should applaud the movement and growth in school choice across the country and in Wyoming over the past several years. Indeed, our children have unique circumstances and challenges, including those in rural areas. When did a one-size-fits-all approach ever work when it comes to teaching our children?
We've come a long way. But we can continue to foster choice for parents and their children. Parents and their children deserve a real say in their education. Let's empower them—and let's celebrate National School Choice Week. After all, what is more important than the welfare and future of our children?