The lessons of school choice

WND Exclusive Commentary The lessons of school choice
Rebecca Hagelin

Posted: February 21, 2006
1:00 a.m. Eastern

© 2006 WorldNetDaily.com

Choosing how your children are educated should be as routine in America as the ability to choose your neighborhood, your church and your place of employment.

It stuns me that in 2006, the vast majority of students in failing schools are still trapped there. My husband and I have enjoyed the marvelous blessing of choosing freely between private schools, public schools and home schooling for our children. Yet, the reality for most parents is no real choice at all.

The No Child Left Behind Act, enacted in 2002 by a large majority of Congress, was aimed at correcting the "soft bigotry of low expectations," in President Bush's memorable phrase. Academic achievement would be boosted by demanding accountability – and educators would be held accountable by testing students regularly and measuring their progress. The parents of students in failing schools were supposed to have at least some choice to move to schools that perform.