The most common argument I hear teachers union advocates and politicians promulgate is that private school choice destroys public schools. All over America, the school choice battle rages on, with the largest teachers union, politicians, and anti-school choice advocates fighting against education freedom, sometimes because they believe it will protect their beloved neighborhood schools. But this is an outdated approach, and outdated system, and it is well past time for public school districts and public school advocates to reframe their thinking. Instead of fighting for the preservation of something that’s not working, how can public schools innovate and adapt in the new age of education freedom? Florida’s model may be the answer.
Florida families are responsible for directing the use of almost $4 billion education dollars each year with almost 543,000 students enrolled in school choice programs. For-profit education providers such as Primer identified the opportunity and entered the market, opening high-performing and cutting-edge microschools in the state. In the same way, 10 Florida school districts saw the opportunity for innovation and made their courses, both virtual and in person, available for purchase to some scholarship recipients. The scholarship dollars that families are using to assemble a personalized education for their children can be used to buy public school courses, too, diversifying district revenue streams and maintaining relevance for public school systems — all while serving families’ needs.
Looking for the perfect course in algebra for your homeschooled ninth grader? Go ahead and buy it à la carte from the Orange County school district. Have an outdoorsy child who would enjoy a nature-based Earth science course? Maybe the Oak Meadow outdoor book-based curriculum is right for you. Let the best product for your child win! When a family uses their scholarship dollars to create a parent-directed education for their child, a Florida student can be a public school student and a private school student at the same time. Times have changed, and education freedom gives parents the ability to pick and choose what is best for their children. Public school districts would be wise to take on the opportunity to compete.
ILLINOIS DEMOCRATS BULLY HOMESCHOOL FAMILIES
We don’t have to dismantle the public school system for education freedom to thrive. As a Florida State Board of Education member and a fierce school choice advocate, I do not envision a future without our public schools. I know that excellent public schools are the bedrock of many communities, and great public schools serve their students well. I envision a future where the best public schools and public school districts are incentivized to share their highest-quality teachers and courses with all students. Public schools can continue to thrive in the new education freedom landscape if they put their products out in the open market like they are already doing in 10 Florida counties. What better incentive to create a great product and educate children as well as possible?
It is the dawn of a new era for education in America. Families across the nation have already said that they want their education dollars in their own hands and they want to be able to control how they spend them. Families know that many public schools have great programs, yet they envision something other than the traditional brick-and-mortar, 8-3 p.m. school experience and seek the flexibility to pick and choose which public school courses fit their children’s needs. If public school districts want to keep up with America’s appetite for unbundling and flexibility in education, it is time for a paradigm shift, and Florida is leading the way.
Kelly Garcia is a visiting fellow at Independent Women, the regional director for GuidEd, and a member of the Florida State Board of Education.