President-elect George Bush recently emphasized the importance of public-school choice in his upcoming Administration. He stated that expanding parents’ ability to choose public schools is a crucial objective for the nation. In a speech that provided insight into the new Administration’s education-policy goals, Mr. Bush expressed his intention to offer financial and other forms of assistance to states and districts interested in experimenting with choice plans and other valuable reforms. This announcement came during a workshop on education choice at the White House, where choice advocates and experts gathered, including President Reagan, who also delivered a speech.
Both the President and President-elect steered clear of any mention of extending choice to private schools, a pursuit that the Reagan Administration had tirelessly pursued for over five years but fell short. According to Denis P. Doyle, a senior research fellow at the Hudson Institute, Mr. Bush’s discreet silence on the matter spoke volumes. Doyle noted that the President-elect is a conciliator by nature and prefers to avoid fights that yield no results. Participants who favored the use of vouchers or tuition tax credits to enable parents to freely choose between public and private schools expressed disappointment with Mr. Bush’s speech.
Sister Patricia A. Bauch, an assistant professor of education at The Catholic University of America, stated her disappointment in Mr. Bush’s speech and emphasized that he made it clear that private schools would not be included in his plans. Albert Shanker, the president of the American Federation of Teachers, agreed, noting that the President-elect’s speech signaled a shift towards public-school choice and was well-received by several participants who appreciated his moderate tone.
The workshop on expanding parental choice was an inclusive gathering that featured discussions and debates throughout the day. The agenda included testimonies from three students, two governors, as well as various school officials and policy experts. The aim of the conference was to encourage open dialogue and the sharing of ideas on what individuals and institutions are currently doing in the field of education.
One of the most frequently discussed plans was the successful choice plan implemented in Community District 4 in New York City’s East Harlem. Seymour Fliegel, one of the architects of District 4’s plan, explained that while choice is a positive step, it should not be seen as a cure-all solution. District 4 allowed groups of teachers to design their own junior high and middle schools, which eventually led to the majority of schools in the district becoming comprehensive schools. The remaining few schools were transformed into schools that allowed students to choose their preferred educational environment. Fliegel emphasized the importance of building quality schools with unique missions and visions in order to provide meaningful choice to students.
Despite the support for choice, participants acknowledged that poorly planned choice programs could lead to more negative consequences than positive outcomes. Charles Glenn, the director of the bureau of equal educational opportunity in Massachusetts, cautioned against promoting inequities through systems that only offer limited spaces in magnet schools and other schools of choice.
In conclusion, the workshop on expanding parental choice was a platform for discussion and exchange of ideas. The President-elect’s speech indicated a focus on public-school choice rather than including private schools. The District 4 plan in New York City was highlighted as a successful example, emphasizing the importance of quality and diversity in school options. Participants also cautioned against poorly planned choice programs that could exacerbate educational inequities.
State-level Choice Program
Minnesota’s "access to excellence" initiative, which encompasses open enrollment across district lines, postsecondary options for 11th and 12th graders, and a wide range of choices for at-risk students, has been considered as a model for other states. According to Minnesota’s Governor, Rudy Perpich, they implemented the reforms gradually to instill confidence in the public regarding the ability of choice to enhance both participation and excellence in schools. The Governor received applause from advocates of private schools when he unveiled his new plan to allow at-risk students to use state funding to attend private, nonsectarian schools.
Similarly, Governor Tommy Thompson of Wisconsin introduced two new choice proposals during the event. The first proposal aims to allow students in grades K to 6 residing in Milwaukee County to utilize state funding to attend any public or nonsectarian private school in the county. This proposal is a scaled-back version of the previous one, which included private and parochial schools. The second proposal is modeled after Minnesota’s voluntary open-enrollment law, allowing students to transfer between participating districts.
While a number of states are currently considering state-level choice proposals, only six state legislatures, based on a survey by the National Conference of State Legislators, plan to address the issue this year. Resistance to choice still persists despite its proven effectiveness.
President Reagan expressed his support for choice and its impact on education. He emphasized the importance of empowering parents to play a significant role in designing their children’s education. However, the omission of private-school choice in his speech ignited a lively debate regarding the use of public funds to support private-school attendance.
Advocates of private schools argued that if higher education students under the G.I. bill can choose sectarian colleges without violating the separation of church and state, then students of all ages should have the freedom to choose their schools. They believe that choice should not only be about promoting academic excellence and preventing dropouts but it should also ensure equal opportunities for parents seeking religious education for their children. President Bush, at the end of the day, acknowledged the role of the private sector in pushing public schools to innovate and improve.
In conclusion, the discussion surrounding state-level choice programs has gained momentum, with advocates championing the benefits of choice and its potential impact on education. However, there are concerns and debates regarding the extent of choice, specifically when it comes to utilizing public funds to support private-school attendance.
According to him, in the American society, where the freedom to choose is celebrated in various domains, the appropriate inquiry should be "why shouldn’t it be?"
