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!
Friedman Foundation Survey: “Virginia’s Opinion on K-12 Education and School Choice “
We’ll post more on this later today, but in case you missed it yesterday, we were honored to joined the Friedman Foundation, Virginia Walden Ford and many other state and national education organizations in releasing the latest in the Friedman Foundations Surveys in the State series.
To read more: Virginia’s Opinion on K-12 Education and School Choice
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.
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.
You Decide ‘09: Outdated promises or real reform?
Arriving home on Saturday afternoon after running some errands, my hands were full of bags as I encountered a father and son at my door. Ah yes, campaign season is in full swing!
Since my hands were full, and I was eager to unload my groceries, I didn’t stop to talk to the pair- simply thanked them for their time, and they were back on their way.
After the fact, I wished I had stopped the father and son to talk- and more specifically, ask them what their candidate proposed to do to improve the son’s education- to improve education for all of Virginia’s kids. Now I know that these were just two volunteers out with their prepared campaign lit (trust me, I’ve been there plenty there plenty of times myself), but it would have been interesting to hear what their “talking points” on education would have been. More funding? More teacher pay? More money in the classroom? Accountability? Sure, those may be good sound bites, but do they really improve education?
Well the folks at the Washington Post Editorial Board must have been reading my mind (which believe me, is a scary and pretty surreal thing, since I can certainly count on one hand the times the Post and I agree on things…) But sure enough, there was the Post, calling both candidates for governor to task and challenging them to stand up for real education reforms.
Their editorial: Old School in Virginia: Instead of making outdated promises, the gubernatorial candidates should be promoting education reform.
The Post makes the argument that while candidates’ pledges to raise teacher salaries might make a good sound-bite, there is no evidence that it will do anything to actually improve education. While it might be a good move in appeasing the teacher’s unions, it doesn’t equal results. Real education reforms are needed to create real results.
The Post did have some praise for Mr. McDonnell for part of his platform on education.
There are some glimpses of that willingness in the gubernatorial campaigns. We admire Mr. McDonnell’s outspoken support for charter schools; Mr. Deeds has interesting ideas on how to encourage people to become teachers in Virginia. Both see the need for toughening standards. Each says that he supports the concept of performance pay, Mr. McDonnell more convincingly than Mr. Deeds. But neither has fully developed proposals that he is really pushing.
Will Bob McDonnell or Creigh Deeds heed this advice and start promoting substantive reforms? Will they break free from the old school and give Virginians some 21st century solutions?
This year’s other elections up in New Jersey are already seeing education playing a bigger role in the campaigns. Also on Sunday, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported that “Schools fuel the NJ race for Governor.” The headline should have probably said “education” instead of “schools,” but that aside, it is clear that all 3 candidates in NJ are pushing hard on education and making it a priority in this campaign.
Virginia voters should also demand that education be a priority in the campaign, and not just the same old “outdated promises.” Our children deserve real solutions and real results- not sound-bites and the status quo.
Reform? Go for the whole package!
Great letter to the editor in The Indianapolis Star from Robert Enlow, President of the Friedman Foundation.
As we’ve noted, Indiana has recently joined the ever-growing list of states to embrace school choice, and Governor Mitch Daniels recently hosted former Florida Governor Jeb Bush to share Florida’s successes with education reform.
In his letter, “Go for whole package of school reform, not pieces,” Mr. Enlow urges support for a comprehensive package of education reforms for Indiana in order to ensure success for students. He writes:
Bush argued for a comprehensive package of reforms, all of which were critical to Florida’s success. In his remarks to the Education Roundtable, clear accountability (grading schools), good incentives (merit pay) and real consequences (school choice) were inextricably linked. Without each component working together, success would not have been possible, a fact evidenced by a recent study showing that improvement among failing public schools went from double digits to zero after the Florida Supreme Court removed the school voucher option.
There is no one silver bullet to improve education. But a comprehensive package of reforms, including greater accountability and school choice, will help to give all students a better chance at academic success.
Virginia leaders, too, should take note. While we are encouraged by greater talk about charter schools from the two candidates for Governor, Virginians need to ask whether these candidates are ready to stand up and support a broad package of comprehensive education reforms- a package that includes greater parental choice in education.
1st Day of School in Virginia
For most students in Virginia, today marks the end of summer and the official start of the school year. We wish all students the best for a very successful school year.
A couple headlines from over the Labor Day weekend:
The Washington Times: Editorial: The public chooses school choice
Another respected poll is out that shows the American public overwhelmingly favors school reforms opposed by the union that is misnamed the National Education Association. On two issues in particular, the public is far ahead of the NEA.
The annual poll, released late last month by Phi Delta Kappa International, a professional association for educators, in conjunction with Gallup, demonstrated strong majority support for charter schools and merit-pay systems for teachers. But the power-hungry union consistently puts roadblocks or stultifying restrictions on these reforms.
National Review Online: President Obama, Inspire Thyself
President Obama will address schoolchildren around the nation today, exhorting them to have the courage and determination to achieve their educational goals, to seek out expert help when they need it, and to not allow their history to determine their destiny.
These are inspiring words that could indeed transform American education — if only the president himself would heed them.
Obama showed a glimmer of courage on education policy during the 2008 campaign. Asked if he supported private school-choice programs such as the one in Milwaukee, Obama responded, “If there was any argument for vouchers it was ‘Let’s see if the experiment works.’ And if it does, whatever my preconception, you do what’s best for kids.”
An open letter to Kitty Boitnott & the VEA
Dear Ms. Boitnott,
We recently came across your blog entry, in which you wrote:
There are those who would misrepresent or mis-characterize or take our comments out of context for their own political aims, however. And while they think they are clever in their derision, they just strike me as unable to debate the merits of the issue every time they feel the need to criticize me personally or the VEA in general.
You went on to add:
What I find unfortunate is that the folks who disagree with us on these and similar issues can’t seem to separate the issues from personalities. Please, let us debate the merits and demerits of the issue of charter schools, pay for performance, vouchers and tax credits. But can’t we do it without the negative tone of implied derision and open disrespect that comes with name calling and the deliberate mis-characterization and misinterpretation of positions?
Whatever happened to the process of civil public discourse?
I think we as adults set a terrible example for our children when we engage in disrespectful public debate. We know better. We should do better.
As you reference the August 21st article from the Richmond Times Dispatch editorial pages, we are led to believe you are referring, at least in part, to the article written by Mr. Barton Hinkle, that examines the efforts by Delegate Chris Saxman and the organization he founded, School Choice Virginia, to give parents greater access to educational choices in the Commonwealth.
What shocks us in your blog entry is that you yourself make the call for civil public discourse. We could not agree with you more in that regard, which is why we wonder why you yourself made the accusation in an article for The New Dominion Magazine that school choice efforts were based in bigotry. (Your quote: “All of this stuff about, We need vouchers so we can send our kids other places, we need to provide choices, we need charter schools, all of it is simply an attempt to get away from the responsibility of providing a public education, which is what this country has been founded on. This really frustrates me, and I really believe there is an underlying bigotry at the bottom of it all that nobody wants to address.”)
That to us seems to be shirking from a debate about the issues in a civil and respectable fashion. Rather than debate on the issues, it is you yourself who stoops to open disrespect by implying that those of us fighting to give children a chance and parents a choice are no more than bigots wanting to pick who our children play with on the playground.
We have consistently provided evidence for how educational choice improves education- for all students- including those in public schools. We have shown the positive results for choice programs in other states. We have also shown how school choice will effectively save the Commonwealth money- money that could be re-invested in public schools- if you are able to make your case for that.
We welcome you to the discussion about truly reforming education in our Commonwealth, and we would welcome some civil public discourse on the topic without the negative tones. Unfortunately your words on your blog ring hollow when compared to your other public statements on the issue.
