What Do You Think?
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An Increasing Number of Americans want School Choice
But Nothing is Being Done Legislatively, due to the economics involved. by Herbert J. Wahlberg and Joseph L. Bast ![]()
The political obstacles to adoption of school choice programs are well known. Teachers unions are perhaps the most powerful political force, and their leaders are adamantly opposed to allowing parents to choose and schools to compete. (Many teachers support choice and school vouchers, but their voices are seldom heard in the debate.) School boards and administrators often side with teachers unions against school choice.
"The research supports neither the greatest fears about school choice, nor the greatest hopes," said Hill. "What we realized is that choice doesn't necessarily lead to any particular outcome. There is nothing hard-wired between choice and any particular outcome. It depends on the circumstances in which it is introduced and the way it is implemented?It can be implemented well with thoughtful design, and it can enhance public education in communities that take it seriously." Without minimizing the power of these groups, we suspect there is another factor stalling the school choice movement. It is the hesitancy by school choice advocates to defend the economics of school choice |