“School choice" has become a rallying cry for many parents who feel that traditional public schools are not meeting their needs. The promise of publicly funded but independently managed charter schools seems appealing, especially to those who believe in the capitalist notion that more competition and innovation will improve educational outcomes. But there’s an irony in this movement that often goes unnoticed: parents who choose charter schools in pursuit of greater control over their children’s education may find themselves with less power than they had in the traditional public school system.
Traditional public schools are governed by elected school boards, giving parents a direct voice in the decision-making process. If you’re unhappy with the curriculum, policies, or administration, you can attend board meetings, vote in school board elections, or even run for a seat on the board. This democratic process ensures that each member of the community has a voice in how schools are run, providing a level of accountability central to public education.
In contrast, charter schools operate under a different governance model. Most are overseen by boards of directors or trustees who are appointed rather than elected. These boards often include individuals selected by the charter’s founding organization or management company, which may prioritize the school's operational goals over parental input. This structure limits parents' influence over critical decisions, from curriculum choices to disciplinary policies.
What can a parent do if their child is not getting an acceptable education at a charter school? The recourse would be withdrawing that child and looking for a different school. That’s “School Choice” in action, right? The problem is that when the child is sent to a different school, he or she will likely find a different curriculum because charter schools don’t necessarily all stick with the same program. Each charter school operates under a different charter, so the child may be far behind on some subjects or miles ahead on others. In either case, it disrupts the child’s education, which will likely cause undue stress and harm. Do we really need the capitalist notion of “school choice” to play out at the expense of our children’s education?
The irony is clear: in pursuing "school choice" and parental rights, many parents inadvertently give up the very control they seek. Charter schools promise innovation and flexibility, but these come at the cost of diminished parental influence. More importantly, they place stress and anxiety on the child, perhaps poisoning the child's long-term perspective on education.
As a side note, we’re seeing history repeat itself. Back in the early 19th Century, schools were largely unregulated and inconsistent, with many children receiving no formal education or only sporadic instruction in private or religious schools. This lack of standardization led to significant disparities in educational quality and access and, ultimately, denied a prosperous life for the next generation. Public schools were born out of recognizing that consistent and high-quality education was the key to not only individual success but the success of our nation overall. Indeed, once public schools were established in the mid-1800s, our nation became the most innovative and creative on the planet.
No matter how conservative think tanks window dress it, “School Choice” will undoubtedly set our country back 200 years.
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