More school choices will create better K-12 education system

by Darrell Allison, president Parents for Educational Freedom in North Carolina, published in Charlotte Observer, January 1, 2014.

As I travel around the state, I am sometimes asked by well-meaning skeptics: “Instead of providing additional options to students, why not build it within our existing traditional public school system?” This question is understandable. For defenders of traditional public schools only, terms like public charter schools and private schools makes them cringe. A small minority of people believe that public schools, or as they would say “government-run schools”, are inadequate and not worth investing in, but I am not one of them.

My position on public education reform was perhaps best described in the award-winning 2011 documentary, Waiting for Superman. When studying the quality of public education compared to yesteryear, researchers found that once high performing schools had become low-performing schools and that the low academic scores may have very little to do with the actual school in question. The real issue may have more to do with the devastation in the communities that surrounds the school – in warp speed!

Consider this: Twenty-three years ago, 70 percent of the African-American households were two-parent households. Today, over 70 percent are one parent. I would in no way imply that single mothers are inadequate, but I’m appalled by the fact that they had no choice in the matter.

It is tough statistics and hard facts, like these, that have me spinning the question back on those same well-meaning skeptics: Given the plight of our family, communities and the impact of a new global economy, why should we ‘expect’ for our traditional public schools, solely, to wrestle with these challenges alone? Now more than ever, we as citizens must be open to new ideas, innovation – and change.

Change is constant. All of us must adapt. And our public educational system is no different.

When just over 30 percent of children from low-income communities meet grade standards in Charlotte-Mecklenburg, it is clear that these parents deserve greater educational options for their child, traditional or nontraditional. And when you add these countywide numbers to statewide figures, the number of children that are unable to perform at grade level is jaw-dropping. According to the State Department of Public Instruction, 70 percent of low-income N.C. students failed to demonstrate proficiency !

Our K-12 public education system should look to our forward-thinking leaders at our N.C. colleges and universities. In a state recognized for its technological prowess and medical advances, our schools of higher-learning have sought to creative models at the K-12 level by housing choice schools on their very own campuses. In recognition of the new global economy, our universities have even discussed the idea of starting campuses in China! If change and adaptation is good enough for our world-class institutions, why such furor opposing parent options at the K-12 public education system?

The divisions among adults within our traditional public schools, public charter schools and private schools must end. It’s about the kids.

New York Times best-selling author, Eckhart Tolle, once said “Some changes look negative on the surface, but you will soon realize that that makes space for something new to emerge.” The something new to emerge will not happen, solely, within our traditional public schools, expanded public charter schools nor in the Opportunity Scholarship program where low-income children can attend private schools. All of these innovative models should be allowed to flourish – creating a new and better K12 public educational delivery system for all children.