President's Viewpoint
The Real Choice

When it comes to making a choice, America's parents, in overwhelming numbers, choose public schools.

As the political campaigns heat up in the weeks ahead, expect "school choice" to become a big issue from coast to coast.

We know what some politicians mean by "choice." They mean taxpayer-funded tuition vouchers for private and religious schools. But in Florida-- the first state to enact a statewide voucher system--parents are learning the hard way that this "choice" is a fraud. Nearly 93 percent of private and parochial schools in Florida have refused to accept any voucher students. Some choice!

May I state the obvious? The "choice" that parents really want is the choice to send their children to high-quality public schools in their local community. Tellingly, nearly 85 percent of the most affluent families (the highest-earning fifth of families nationwide) choose to send their children to public schools. These are folks who have the financial resources to send their children to the best possible schools, whether private, parochial, or public. In this competitive marketplace, the public schools win, hands down.

But let's be frank. Yes, the majority of public schools in the United States offer a rigorous academic program and are staffed by highly qualified teachers (studies show that public school teachers, overall, are more experienced and better educated than their nonpublic peers).

But it's also true that many public schools--especially in poor, inner-city and rural communities--are struggling badly. Teachers in these high-poverty schools often lack certification. The school buildings are crumbling. Student achievement is low.

How do we lift up these schools and the children they serve? Once again, the voucher advocates just don't get it. Quality education has nothing to do with whether a school is private or public. What counts are high-quality teachers, modern facilities, rigorous academic standards, rich parent involvement, plus the resources to offer individualized assistance to kids who need help. What counts is the political will to create high-quality schools in low-income communities.

Connecticut has the right idea, beginning with its uncompromising quest for quality teachers. Says the Washington Post: "Connecticut and its local school boards provide some of the highest teacher salaries in the country, mentors for every new teacher, exhaustive checks of classroom competence, extra help for the lowest-performing schools, early intervention with poor readers, and a rare patience and consistency." The result: Connecticut leads the nation in reading, writing, and math scores.

Families in disadvantaged neighborhoods don't want the false "choice" of vouchers. They want the real choice to send their children to quality public schools in their local community. Most middle-class and high-income families already have the choice to send their kids to high-quality local public schools. It is time to make this choice available to every American family.

To that end, let me say how deeply I appreciate your commitment to quality public education and to enriching the lives of young people. Yes, you can expect that some politicians will try to score points by bashing public schools and impugning your professionalism. But I urge you to keep your eyes on the prize. Never forget how incredibly important your work is. As educators, you have the power to touch the future in extraordinary ways. And you do! Have a great year!

Comments? You can E-mail Bob Chase at BobChase@nea.org. If you would like a response, please be sure to include your name and NEA local affiliate.