2 Reasons Everyone Should Support School Choice

Guest post by Greta Bloyd

School choice is gaining traction around the country in a growing number of states, and the results are impressive. It’s time Nebraska seriously considers real school choice. Here are just two reasons why.

1. School Choice Makes Sense

Who knows your children better than you? As parents, we know better than anyone else where our children thrive and where they struggle. We know our children’s personalities and how they best learn. We know what environments they will do well in, and what environments will reflect the worldview we are working so hard to instill in our children in our homes.

My husband and I both graduated from public school. We have friends who are teachers, school psychologists, and coaches in the public school system. My aunt was a teacher and then a principal in a public school, and my uncle and cousin have been public school football coaches for their entire careers. We are not anti-public school. However, we do understand that it is not the best fit for everyone for a variety of legitimate reasons. It wasn’t the best fit for our family.

We have two very different sons, (Seriously, we often wonder how they can possibly be related!) and we chose two different educational models to fit their individual needs, and learning styles. One attended and graduated from a private school, and the other is being homeschooled – at least for now. That may change as his needs change. It is our obligation as parents to do what is best for our children. School choice makes that possible.

As parents, we have every right to decide how our kids are educated. As Nebraskans, we have the responsibility to do what is in the best interest of our children, even if that means disrupting the status quo.

2. School Choice Makes Cents

Families and kids are not one-size-fits-all. That’s why a quality education that best meets the many factors parents should consider – from values to learning styles to how well any given school performs – should be made available to every child in Nebraska.

Choosing private school and homeschooling for our boys has meant sacrifices that we were more than willing to make. But the choices we made are not feasible for too many. For some, it’s not financially possible to send their kids to private school, or for one parent to stay home to homeschool.

On the other hand, many believe that offering tax breaks to families who choose an educational model other than the public school system will drain more money from schools that already struggle to educate children on their current budgets. So what’s the right answer? The facts can help us decide.

Around the country where real school choice is offered, real benefits are being seen. A study by Jeff Spaulding of the Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice found that,

For the 10 school vouchers programs examined in this report, a cumulative total savings of at least $1.7 billion has been realized since 1990-91, the first year of the historic Milwaukee Parental Choice Program (MPCP), through 2010-11, the end of this paper’s review period.[1]

Spaulding offers these formulas to show how money is saved:

 •         Per Student Cost Burden Removed From Public Schools > Cost of Voucher à Net Savings Per Student

•         Net Savings Per Student   X  Number of Voucher Recipients = Total Net Savings

•         Fiscal Effect on State Government  + Fiscal Effect on Local Public Schools = Total Net Savings = Cost Burden Removed From Public Schools – Cost of Vouchers[2]

School choice can benefit every child, every family, and every school. So the real question is: As responsible parents and Nebraskans, why would we oppose that?

(The Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice provides great information on school choice here. http://www.edchoice.org/  )

[1] http://www.edchoice.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/The-School-Voucher-Audit-Do-Publicly-Funded-Private-School-Choice-Programs-Save-Money.pdf pg. 6

[2] ibid, pgs 15-16.

Greta Bloyd is a home school mom who also works full-time from home for Tiny Hands International. She and her husband Doug have two sons, Tanner who graduated from Lincoln Christian and is now a junior at UNL, and Kyler who is a 4th grader who currently loves being taught by mom! Greta holds a Bachelors degree from UNL and a Masters degree from Biola University.