School Choice is Best for Children

As tens of millions of people across the country prepare to celebrate National School Choice Week Jan. 21 through 27, our goal is to focus on parents and children, not politics or politicians.During National School Choice Week, schools of every type – traditional public, charter, magnet, online, and private – will join homeschool groups to celebrate the things that make their education environments unique and effective.As a nonpartisan awareness effort, National School Choice Week provides an opportunity to bring conversations about education out from the political sphere and to the kitchen tables and living rooms of parents in communities across America.This is important because, even though education is a matter of public policy, it is also deeply personal.At its core, school choice affirms the special bond between parents and children. School choice empowers parents to turn the love and concern they have for their children into action. It encourages them to talk to their children and make decisions together about what schooling environments fit the talents, interests, and challenges that are unique to every student. And it recognizes that while one school might be a good fit for some students, it isn’t necessarily a good fit for every child.By exercising school choice options, parents who want their children to learn Mandarin can send them to a school where they will learn Mandarin; parents who believe their kids need a lot of time outdoors or who want to affirm their faith tradition can follow that path; parents who didn’t go to college but want their kids to have that opportunity can find a college prep choice.Parents choose schools for a variety of reasons. For example, a survey of Indiana parents found that parents considered factors such as academics, morality, social skills, diversity, college preparation, an appreciation for nature, patriotism, the ability to enter the job force without a college degree, and an opportunity to learn another language.These choices reflect the diversity and individualism of our great country, and they should be respected and celebrated. After all, no matter where we fall on the political spectrum, we all share the same goal: to unlock the potential for success and happiness in every child through a great education tailored to who they are and who they want to be.