As Parents Choose, Will Public Schools Lose? |
October 2005 • Volume 3 • Issue 4
Deep in their souls, men and women in this country believe that choice is the American way.
Yet, aside from a few religious groups, it has taken until the 21st century for the idea of choosing schools to really take hold. Only now are true lternatives starting to test the dominance of traditional public education. Loyalty to the traditional public school way can no longer be assumed.
Charter schools, voucher schools, cyber schools and other innovations have emerged as competitors. The relevance of school boards is being questioned. In the midst of such change, it behooves school leaders to study the alternatives and analyze if and why they are effective.
The future of public education will hinge on its ability to provide quality and opportunities for success for young people. With consumers (parents/guardians) ready to vote with their feet, public education becomes one selection on the menu, and officials must fight to maintain its status as the main course.
