Survey Results are in: Virginians Support School Choice – But what do we do next?
So I should start off with apologies for not having a chance to write on this earlier this week, but those of you who follow us on Twitter know that we’ve been trying to keep up with sharing all the coverage of our announcement of the new survey conducted here in Virginia by the Friedman Foundation on education issues.
On Monday, we were honored to be a part of a large group joining the Friedman Foundation in the release of “Virginia’s Opinion on K-12 Education and School Choice.” (The folks from Friedman have told us that our coalition of release partners was larger than any state so far, including: The Thomas Jefferson Institute for Public Policy, Virginia Catholic Conference, The Family Foundation, The Chase Foundation of Virginia, The Alderson Family Foundation, Virginia Council for Private Education, Mid-Atlantic Catholic Schools Consortium, Old Dominion Association of Church Schools, Agudath Israel of America – Mid-Atlantic Region, Verizon Virginia, Markel Corporation, Joe Ragan’s Coffee and Office Products, School Choice Virginia, The Lexington Institute, and Americans for Prosperity – Virginia. National organizations include the Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice, Black Alliance for Educational Options (BAEO), Association of Christian Schools International, Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, National Catholic Educational Association, and United States-Mexico Cultural and Educational Foundation.)
As if that list of partners wasn’t impressive enough, the findings of the statewide survey added the real punch.
Though it doesn’t come as much of a surprise to those of us on the ground working for education reforms (and those of us who have ever talked to parents about educational choices for their kids), but a majority of likely voters support school choice options (including tax-credit scholarships, vouchers and charter schools) and would opt for schools other than their traditional public schools.
Now before someone jumps in with the old argument that “well they must all be AGAINST public schools then!” – one of the interesting finds of the survey was that actually a majority of Virginians rate their public schools as good or excellent (which Friedman hasn’t found in other states). But while they have high opinions of their public schools, they STILL support more educational choices, showing again what we’ve said all along that this isn’t about public versus private, and that you can support your traditional public schools AND be for school choice.
Second point- this isn’t some right-wing Republican plot against the public school system. Nope. In fact there is strong support for tax-credit scholarships AND vouchers among Democrats, Republicans and Independents. And that support is significant:
* Tax-credit scholarships: D: 64% | R: 68% | I: 66%
* Vouchers: D: 53% | R: 67% | I: 58%
* Special needs vouchers: D: 81% | R: 79% | I: 76%
Yes, you read that right. The majority of Democrats, Republicans and Independents support school choice options- even VOUCHERS! (And here we were being told “voucher” was practically a dirty word!)
Perhaps even more significantly (especially for those of us who enjoy the numbers game), the favor-oppose gaps between those who support versus those who stated their oppposition to these choice options was very large.
* Tax-credit scholarships: D: +43% | R: +46% | I: +44%
* Vouchers: D: +15% | R: +39% | I: +22%
* Special needs vouchers: D: +67% | R: +64% | I: +60%
So, the big question has been: Well, what does this all mean for Virginia?
Well, some of that is in your hands. While we are doing our part to share the results of this survey with newly elected lawmakers, the media, parents and other policy-influencers, you can help by getting involved! Share this survey with your Delegate and Senator. Ask them if they will support education reforms that will provide parents greater access to educational options. Because at the end of the day, a survey is good at telling you the overview, but actually hearing directly from voters living in your own legislative district is even better. So join us in sharing this survey- and join us in sharing your support for education reforms!
VOTE: Our Children Are Counting On Us
Earlier this summer, I had the opportunity to have lunch with another leader in the school choice movement. As we discussed policy and reforms and all those “good ideas” we have to improve educational opportunities for our children, he stopped and asked a very poignant question.
“But what can I tell a parent they can do now- TODAY- to change their child’s education?”
It is a tough question to answer. As many of us who have worked on this issue for years (or decades) know, change sadly does not usually happen over night. Many of these reforms come slowly- and sometimes progress can seem to barely move at a crawl. Our coalition here at School Choice Virginia includes many individuals and organizations who have been on the front-lines of the education fight here in Virginia for many years. They have remained committed to fighting for our children, even when the odds seem stacked against them.
And while we have outlined a number of steps here on our website that parents can take to get involved, the first step comes tomorrow. On Tuesday, November 3rd, you can take the first step for meaningful education reforms for our children by getting out to the polls and voting.
Your vote matters. Your voice matters. Our children cannot vote- so they are counting on us to speak up for them. They are counting on us to be their voice.
If you aren’t sure where to go vote, you can find your polling location online.
We have shared some information about the education platforms of the two candidates for governor, but we also encourage you to learn about their positions. For Bob McDonnell’s positions on education visit here. For Creigh Deed’s positions on education visit here.
Please remember to VOTE on Tuesday, November 3rd. It is the first step we can all take to make sure our voices are heard for educational reforms that will give all our children access to educational opportunities to help them succeed. We need leadership in Richmond that will stand up for our children and fight for education reforms to give them ALL a brighter future.
The education monopoly
I think most people do not believe that monopolies are not a good thing for consumers. Think about the American Telephone and Telegraph Company (now AT&T)- I think most of us are at least somewhat familiar with the telephone giant’s former monopoly on phone services. According to Wikipedia, as early as 1907 the president of the company was pursuing a goal of “One Policy, One System, Universal Service.”
Well, long-story short, eventually consumers got sick and tired of the monopoly, anti-trust lawsuits were filed, and the government stepped in to break-up the monopoly. Today, most consumers enjoy far more choices when it comes to phone service options.
Lack of competition creates apathy. Perhaps even laziness. And they usually artificially drive up costs.
So why would a government-run education monopoly be a good thing? How can one be opposed to a business monopoly but support a government-controlled monopoly?
Okay, so I know some critics will immediately say “but this is EDUCATION, not a business!” – emphasizing that education is more important than any business. Well yes, education is more important- so why on earth would we allow it to be controlled by a destructive monopoly?? Then those critics may start on some silly line of non-reasoning saying things about how education is too important to be entrusted to anyone other than the government and how can we trust what is being taught in schools not controlled by government (or some other really incoherent and ridiculous argument- I’m sure you’ve heard them before). Well then one might ask them where President Obama received his education? Just saying…
Anyways, in today’s NY Times, Thomas Friedman has an insightful opinion piece underscoring the importance of high-quality education. In The New Untouchables, he writes:
That is the key to understanding our full education challenge today. Those who are waiting for this recession to end so someone can again hand them work could have a long wait. Those with the imagination to make themselves untouchables — to invent smarter ways to do old jobs, energy-saving ways to provide new services, new ways to attract old customers or new ways to combine existing technologies — will thrive. Therefore, we not only need a higher percentage of our kids graduating from high school and college — more education — but we need more of them with the right education.
We do need to equip our children with the right education. But I’d argue that the right education will not be found in a one-size fits all model. The right education will be different for every child, and our education reforms must start with that in mind.
The other week I mentioned the Kindergarten Fair being held here for families to learn more about local public and private schools. It was a great event- but it truly highlights the difference between the private schools and the public school monopoly. Since approximately 92% of students in Virginia attend the public schools already- they don’t really have to “compete” for students. Plus they know that their funding is guaranteed. And it showed. The representatives from the local public school system appeared apathetic and rather uninterested in even being there, especially when compared to the energy and excitement expressed by the various representatives of the various private schools. The private school reps knew that they had to “sell” their schools and their unique programs- they actually have to compete for students.
So if an AT&T monopoly was bad for consumers- isn’t it time we declare a government-controlled education monopoly to also be bad for consumers? Our children deserve better.
You’re in the purple box
Nothing like a bureaucrat-controlled computer program deciding where your child should go to school, right?
So the other night I was talking to a representative of the local public school district. (And yes, I refrained from my normal debates about school choice and education reforms.) Anyways, so I wanted to confirm to what school my children would be assigned based on my address. Conveniently, she has with her a lovely color-coded map of the city- showing the often-confusing and seemingly-random boundaries drawn up for each school.
My house was located in a nice little purple “box.” (I use “box” loosely as the shape looked more like a rough approximation of a square with a funny shaped diamond attached arbitrarily to the side of it.)
Now I know they have a “reason” for all these crazy shapes they draw up on their maps- they want to create nice diverse student populations so they have to get rather creative with their line drawing.
So, even though you may have not one, but two schools located just blocks away, no, you may be assigned to another school even further away. And even if you wanted your child to attend one of those closer schools (because, well, they are closer and their students perform better), no, because the computer says so, you go to school X.
Make sense to you?
See, in their system, it isn’t about what you, as a parent want. It isn’t about what is best for your child even (though that part still gets me since I really thought education was supposed to be about students). It is about what works for a bunch of adults who have never even met the children they are randomly assigning to schools.
So what’s my point? Well, simply that I don’t think we’ll ever truly improve education in this country until we break out of the box. Until we put educational decisions back in the hands of parents (who, one would assume after knowing their own child for 5 years would know a bit more about them than a computer operated by a central-office bureaucrat). Until we reject a status-quo system that isn’t working for our children.
Boxing our kids in is not the solution.
Who needs school choice anyways?
You know what I don’t get? People who try to make the argument that because generally, Virginia has some good public schools, that we don’t “need” school choice. Okay, well to me that’s like making some silly argument that because Ford makes some generally good vehicles, we don’t “need” to have any other competitors. Everyone should just be happy with their Ford and go about their business.
Really? I’m not buying.
So last night, I was talking to a mother of 2 children in elementary school. Both of her kids attend a local private school-though until about a year ago, both had been enrolled in their local public school. I was asking her about their choice- and she said that they had attended one of the best public schools in Fairfax County- and in fact she and her husband has originally picked their house specifically because of the good school district.
Then, one day in about 3rd grade, her older child came home and asked to be home schooled. As a parent, that sends up a pretty big red-flag that something isn’t working.
This family was lucky- they were able to afford to make the choice to enroll their kids in a different school- and by all accounts, the choice was a good one and the kids are thriving in their new environment. But it makes me wonder what about the countless other children who are stuck- who are suffering in silence because their parents cannot afford another option? That’s not an issue that can simply be fixed with more funding.
We’ve said it before, even a “great” school may not always be right for every child. And when it isn’t, what is a parent to do? Maybe the school isn’t challenging enough. Maybe it is too challenging. Maybe there are problems with classmates. Maybe the student needs more 1-on-1 instruction. Maybe the child just needs a different structure. Whatever the reason, if we want all children to achieve, shouldn’t we be finding more ways to help them do that?
School choice shouldn’t just be about helping change miserably failing school districts (though certainly those are some of the areas that desperately need choice the most). School choice is about recognizing children as individuals, with individual and unique needs. We can’t expect them all to fit into one mold and learn the same way. Let’s create a vibrant system of educational choices that give every child the best chance at recognizing their own potential. Let’s make sure those kids in failing districts AND those kids who are struggling in even the best schools have the choices that will give them a chance to succeed.
Make sure your voice is heard. Get involved! Talk to your lawmakers about educational options and choice. Legislators really do want to hear from their constituents- find their contact information online here. Call them; email them; let them know that you support education reforms that are focused on children first.
Kindergarten School Fairs
So the other day I picked up a flyer for a Kindergarten Fair – which was great news, as there’s been quite a bit of discussion about school choices in our household of late as we begin thinking about kindergarten options.
Now I am sure most of us are familiar with College Fairs- either from attending them ourselves in high school, or returning after graduation to help market our own alma maters to college-bound students. Dozens of different colleges and universities sending representatives to try and sell their schools to high school students thinking about their higher education. Schools competing for the best students and marketing their own uniqueness to fit the needs of a diverse student population.
And so to me it seems natural to hold a similar program for families looking at the beginning of their children’s education as well (shouldn’t the first 13 years be just as important as the last 4?). Even by age 4 or 5 you can tell that children have different learning styles and are at different educational levels, and thinking that you can fit them all into a one-size-fits-all model just doesn’t make much sense. I think it is a great think to have the opportunity to highlight different educational programs and encourage schools to compete for students- even as early as kindergarten. The thing that saddens me though is that for most students, there are no real options. Sure, the choices are there- if you can afford the sometimes $18,000 and up yearly tuition (yes, even for Kindergarten!).
While some of our local public schools are wonderful- just down the street there are other options that continue to struggle. But it is equally important to remember that even at those “great” schools- some students in those schools may continue to struggle- and simply looking at broad generalizations or overall test scores may not be the best measure of how that school will do for a unique child. And so, sadly, many kids in our area remain stuck in a school that may not be able to best meet their needs and give them the best opportunity for success.
Again, that’s not to say that every private school will be right for every child either- but again, as we’ve said before, choice isn’t about public versus private. It is about being able to make the decisions that give a child the best chances to succeed. It isn’t about any one school – or school model- trying to be everything to everyone, but rather a system where we have the diversity of options and that can better fulfill the needs of a very diverse society of unique individuals.
I am pleased that our local public schools will have representatives at the Kindergarten Fair – in addition to the private schools- and I look forward to hearing what they all have to say. And hopefully in the future all Virginia families will have access to multiple options when it comes to the education of their children- and no child will be stuck in a school that doesn’t meet their needs.
Educating a child
I apologize for the lack of new blog posts lately. A long-weekend away for a family wedding kept me away from the computer, so I’m just now trying to play catch up.
I usually try and blog about positive news about education reform from around the country- stories where school choice has been implemented and given families and students hope, but the news about the tragic and senseless beating of a Chicago student deeply saddened and angered me. Perhaps even more so, it frustrated me. No child should go to school in fear. No parent should worry about whether their child will survive the school day. As I read the reports and see the news- you can feel the fear of these students as they talk about tensions escalating and fights breaking out in the hallways. How can a child be expected to learn- to achieve- when they are fearful for their safety or their life?
As readers of this blog know, I have a 4 year old at home. It makes me sick with fear to think what I would do if it were my child who had to go back to this school- knowing what had happened- knowing what was happening. We have written before about the recent study by the Heritage Foundation and the Lexington Institute showing the lack of safety in the DC public schools. But it is not just limited to these urban school districts. Bullying has increased over the past decades- and plenty of students- even students in great schools- are fearful setting foot in school every day.
And that is one of the reasons we work so hard to ensure that every child- every family has a choice. We cannot expect a child to succeed- to excel- if they don’t even feel safe in the classroom. It may not always be something as extreme as what has just happened in Chicago- but that doesn’t make each individual situation any less tragic.
Making education a priority
Hope everyone enjoyed a wonderful weekend!
Over the weekend, I was thinking about our fight for education reform (not that that comes as much of a surprise, I’m sure)- and I had to wonder where it “ranks” for most folks. As I see the political campaigns out doing their door-to-door walks, and watch one campaign commercial after another on tv- I hear about “transportation solutions” and “jobs,” but when it comes to education reforms, things seem to go quiet.
Okay, so I’ve seen plenty of political surveys- and I know that usually generic “education” ranks as a top priority for most voters. Sadly when it comes to “solutions” for education- too many politicians come up short.
Oh sure, we all hear their soundbites: “I’m FOR education.” (What does that even mean??) “I’m for increasing education funding.” (But can you show me where that funding will produce measurable results??) “I support our public schools.” (Gee, that’s great, but what about those public schools that aren’t working for all our kids?)
And what gets me even more is those politicians- like my neighbor- who simply stick the teachers’ union “endorsed” stickers to their yard signs. As if that is going to convince me they are really strong on education. If anything that tells me that they are going to put unions first, which too often means putting kids last.
Derrell Bradford, of E3 (Excellent Education for Everyone)- an awesome organization out of New Jersey working for ed reform- was on MSNBC last week and had a great line about “our schools are organized in ways that make adults happy, but are not serving our children…”
And sadly that seems all too true. But what is worse- why won’t anyone do anything about it?
Shouldn’t parents demand more from the educational system? Shouldn’t we demand more of politicians? They are quick to offer “solutions” for so many other areas of our lives (whether government has any business getting involved or not), but when it comes to our kids, why do so many of them seem more worried about appeasing the teachers’ unions than actually proposing real solutions that will help children to actually succeed?
In this article, Education – ‘the great equalizer’ from One News Now, Mr. Bradford explains:
“Every person has to make education a priority — every child, every parent,” he contends. “It is a serious thing, it is the thing, it is the great equalizer, and it is how we will fix much that ails this great nation.”
And we couldn’t agree more. And in making education a priority, we have to stop letting unions dictate what needs to be done to improve education. Parents need to recognize that the unions are in it to protect their membership- not stand up for children. Parents have to be the ones to stand up for their children and demand better.
He adds that at the same time leaders cannot tell children to take education seriously and then continue to send them to failing schools. Bradford believes that educational choice is key to success — and that with choice, children can get a superior education at a fraction of the cost the government is currently spending per child.
We can no longer sit back and allow politicians to feed us empty lines about “supporting education.” We can no longer allow solutions that do not put kids first. And bottom line- we can no longer accept education reforms that do not allow parental choice to be a part of the solution.
You decide: What “works” in education?
The Heritage Foundation’s The Foundry Blog shares: Universal School Choice Prevails – For Sweden. Yeah, you read that right. Sweden.
In socialist Sweden, universal school choice allows every parent to choose the best school for their child. The voucher program, which has been in effect since 1992 and was created to tackle the kind of problems plaguing the U.S. educational system, provides families with the opportunity to send their child to any type of school they like – public, private, religious, or even for-profit. Stuart Butler, Heritage Vice President of domestic policy studies, explains in Washington Times:
“These independent schools, like the public schools, get a voucher payment for each child. They compete vigorously with one other because the money follows the child to the school of his or her choice. Schools must satisfy their customers … or lose them.”
Sure it’s still Sweden, so there are some drawbacks- schools must all follow a national curriculum and testing- but perhaps there is something to be learned from this model. Schools are given control over their programs and teaching styles, and are actually being forced to satisfy customers, i.e. families? Now that is an ed reform that makes some sense.
Meanwhile, back here in the States, we have teacher’s unions and others actually blocking the doors to children at a charter school. As in last week. September 2009! Really? Is that what the world is coming to? Are unions so threatened by competition that they’ll have members yell at children simply trying to get into their school so they can actually learn?!
Pathetic doesn’t even begin to describe it…
What works? You decide.
Arianna Huffington supports school choice?
Sounds like she does.
We mentioned this article briefly in passing over the holiday weekend (in a link from Democrats for Education Reform), but in case you missed it, Ms. Huffington’s article, “So We Can’t Have Single Payer for Health Care, But How About Single Payer for Education?” is definitely worth a read.
Comments about healthcare aside, Ms. Huffington actually does make the case about the urgent need for education reform.
It’s time we start looking at education reform in bold and different ways, to stop protecting little parcels of partisan turf and start thinking outside the box. To consider the possibilities. To look past our own political backyards at what might lie on the other side of the mountain.
What I see on the other side of the mountain is a single-payer education system.
Yes, it appears the Ms. Huffington is advocating for education vouchers- having existing education funding follow the child- regardless of where they go to school.
In a single-payer education plan, the federal government, in conjunction with the states, would provide an education allotment for every parent of a K-12 child. Parents would then be free to enroll their child in the school of their choice.
Imagine that- a system where PARENTS, not bureaucrats make decisions about where best to educate their child. A system where we are truly funding education- not simply funding schools.
We applaud Ms. Huffington for recognizing the need for real education reforms- reforms that put kids and parents first- not unions and bureaucracies. The time for these changes are now. Our children deserve more than grown ups playing politics with their futures.
What Abraham Lincoln said in his second annual address to Congress in 1862 applies powerfully to today’s education crisis: “The dogmas of the quiet past are inadequate to the stormy present…. As our case is new, so we must think anew and act anew.”
And when it comes to saving out children, there is not a moment to waste.
