Category: Education

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The School Choice Landscape Has Changed

In a recent episode of the 10 Blocks podcast, hosted by City Journal, Mene Ukueberuwa and Brian C. Anderson delve into the growing trend of school choice programs across the United States. These programs, which include school vouchers and education savings accounts, have been gaining traction, particularly in the last few years.

Ukueberuwa explains that the political will for such programs has been building, and since 2022, several states have passed universal school choice programs. These programs allow all students in the state to potentially pursue a private education outside of the traditional public school system. This is a significant shift in the education landscape.

The demand for these programs has been incredibly high, driven by a combination of factors. Public school enrollment was already decreasing from 2020 to 2022, largely due to school closures during the pandemic. Parents were looking for alternatives to traditional public schools, which were perceived as underperforming and slow to reopen. 

Another reason for the shift is because the pandemic exposed parents to the teaching methods and curricula used in public schools. Many parents were dissatisfied with what they perceived as radical pedagogies (gender ideology) and a lack of seriousness and expertise among teachers. This dissatisfaction, coupled with a desire to align their children’s education with their values, has driven many parents towards private schools, particularly those with a religious mission.

The way these programs work is by attaching a portion of the per-pupil public funding to the child. If parents decide to send their child to a private school, that money is subtracted from the funding that would go to the student’s public school and follows them to their new school of choice.

Ukueberuwa highlights Florida as one of the first states to make vouchers available to a wide proportion of students. Today, about 13% of all students in Florida are enrolled in private schools, an increase of about 30% from five to ten years ago. This growth can be attributed to the availability of approximately $8,700 per student for private school tuition.

The podcast also discusses the impact of these programs on traditional public schools. While some fear that the voucher programs could lead to declining funding for public schools, Ukueberuwa explains that states have tried to compensate by increasing teacher pay and substituting additional state funding for certain programs at these schools.

While school choice has become a popular cause among Republican candidates, conservatives are wary of expanding the role of the federal government in education. They fear that federal funding for private schools would come with strings attached, potentially limiting the freedom and flexibility that make school choice programs appealing in the first place. So they would prefer to keep it a local issue.

Even though there will be difficulties, in some states the educational landscape is changing for the better. Parents, through their legislators, are taking back control.

Check out the podcast for more information.

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Who Is A Woman In Broward County, Florida Schools?

Florida school board members clashed over the “definition of a woman” during a tense debate about their district’s sex education curriculum. Broward County School Board member Brenda Fam demanded to know the district’s curricular definition, arguing that parents want clarity on the matter. However, colleague Sarah Leonardi pushed back on the request by claiming Fam was pursuing a “political” agenda.

Well, yes. The agenda of determining a definition for the noun ‘Woman’ is unfortunately political these days. That’s how messed up the Western world is right now.

Speaking about Parents needing clarity, Fam said.

“This is going to weigh heavy on them and whether or not they choose to leave the public school system, or whether they stay based on some of these responses,” she continued. “They are very serious. They want answers to these questions.”

Fam noted that she requested the definitions previously but had not received them.

Interim Superintendent Earleen Smiley responded that she didn’t know if the curriculum contained gender definitions.

“That question is more than a question,” she said. “It’s a thought process and it’s an examination of a lot of laws based on a lot of things. I’m procrastinating and hesitating because there is no clear cut answer I could give you at this point.”

Fam responded that the terms “man” and “woman” had been used in official proceedings last year.

“At that time it wasn’t very difficult to decide,” she said. “So what has now changed where we don’t recognize what’s a man and what’s a woman?”

Another district staffer said that she would research whether or not the curriculum included gender definitions and report back to the board.

Fam asserted that parents had a right to know the district’s position on the polarizing topic.

“I think these are crucial terms,” she contended. “I think they’re actually very basic terms. This shouldn’t be a difficult response.”

FULL STORY

Parents deserve answers to these questions! School Choice has never been more needed than right now.

While the news article itself does not explicitly discuss the connection between the debate in Broward County and school choice in Florida, it is possible to draw some potential connections.

  1. Parental preferences: The debate over the definition of a woman in educational policies could influence parents’ decisions on where to send their children to school. Parents who prioritize traditional values and definitions of gender may prefer schools that adhere to these views, while those who prioritize inclusivity and respect for diverse gender identities may seek out schools with more progressive stances on these issues.
  2. School reputation and funding: Depending on the outcome of this debate, schools in Florida may be categorized based on their approach to gender and sex education, which could impact their reputation and funding. Schools that adopt a more inclusive definition may be more likely to receive funding from organizations that support LGBTQ+ rights, while schools adhering to traditional definitions might attract support from conservative groups.
  3. Magnet and charter schools: In the context of school choice, this debate could potentially impact magnet and charter schools, which often have specialized curricula or specific educational philosophies. Some schools may choose to focus on inclusivity and LGBTQ+ rights, leading to a more diverse range of options for families. This could also result in further competition between schools to attract students based on their approach to gender and sex education.
  4. Policy influence on school choice legislation: The debate in Broward County could also influence broader state-level policies related to school choice. If the issue of gender definition and sex education becomes a prominent factor in determining school policies, it may lead to changes in legislation that either expand or limit school choice options based on a school’s approach to these topics.

While the article does not directly discuss the relationship between the debate in Broward County and school choice in Florida, it is possible to infer potential connections that could impact parental preferences, school reputation, funding, and the development of specialized curricula in magnet and charter schools.

Companion Posts

School Choice Benefits
Which State Is The School Choice King & Queen?

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School Choice!

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School Choice Benefits

How giving parents more options can improve education outcomes

School choice is the idea that parents should have the freedom to choose the best educational option for their children, whether it’s a public school, a private school, a charter school, a homeschool, religious school, or an online school.

School choice advocates argue that giving parents more options can increase competition, innovation, and accountability in the education system and ultimately lead to better outcomes for students.

What are the benefits of school choice for parents and students? Here are some of the main advantages of having more educational options:

School choice can match students with schools that fit their needs and preferences.

Not all students learn the same way or have the same interests and goals. School choice can allow parents to find schools that offer the curriculum, teaching style, environment, and extracurricular activities that suit their children best. For example, some parents may prefer a school that focuses on STEM subjects, while others may want a school that emphasizes arts and humanities. Some parents may value a school that has a strong religious affiliation, while others may seek a school that promotes diversity and inclusion. School choice can help parents find the best fit for their children’s unique needs and aspirations.

School choice can improve student achievement and satisfaction.

Several studies have shown that school choice can have positive effects on student outcomes, such as test scores, graduation rates, college enrollment, and career readiness. For example, a meta-analysis of 19 studies found that students who attended charter schools performed better in math and reading than their peers who attended traditional public schools. Another study found that students who received vouchers to attend private schools had higher graduation rates and college enrollment rates than their counterparts who remained in public schools. School choice can also increase student satisfaction and engagement, as they are more likely to enjoy learning and feel motivated when they attend a school of their choice.

School choice can empower parents and increase their involvement in education.

School choice can give parents more control and responsibility over their children’s education, which can foster a sense of ownership and commitment. Parents who exercise school choice are more likely to be involved in their children’s schooling, such as by attending parent-teacher conferences, volunteering at school events, helping with homework, and providing feedback to teachers and administrators. Parental involvement can have positive effects on student achievement, behavior, and well-being.

School choice can bring quality education to the poor.

Education choice gives children the opportunity to attend schools that are not based on their housing location. This means the cost of home a family can buy no longer limits their child’s access to a quality education.

For some middle-income families, and many more upper-income families, this is not a problem. They can afford to pay both for their child’s private school fees and the taxes to support the public system. But for lower-income families, this is not possible.

School choice means access to a quality education is not dependent on a family’s ability to buy an expensive home or pay twice.

By giving parents more freedom to choose the best educational option for their children, school choice can improve education outcomes and satisfaction for students of all backgrounds and abilities.

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They Are Your Kids