This week is National School Choice Week. Concerned Women for America released a statement about how families should be able to choose a school best suited for their children. It also encourage states to opt-into the Education Freedom Tax Credit, which gives families more education choices through affordable options.
Maggie McKneely, legislative strategist for Concerned Women for America, said that her organization is "pro-allowing parents to choose whatever school is best for their kid and their family." This way, their children can have the opportunity to thrive to the fullest extent of their potential.
"We think it's all about parents having the opportunity to choose, rather than for kids being assigned a school based on just their zip code," says McKneely.
Opponents of school choice argue that, among other things, the allowance of more dollars going to public school alternatives will widen the gap between the haves and the have nots.
However, Concerned Women does not see it that way.
"From our perspective, right now, you're already doing that because you're setting a red line. Forcing kids to go to schools within their zip code is already setting a red line. You're saying, ‘You can't go to a better school because you have to go to a school that you're assigned to’,” states McKneely.
Concerned Women also believes that school choice means more competition.
"You're going to allow public schools to innovate, to be more competitive, and to be a product and an environment that's actually going to benefit kids," says McKneely. "You're also going to allow other innovative educators and people who work in the education field to start charter schools or private schools or extracurricular activities that kids can access and supplement their education.”
While some may think this is a hindrance to education, it is really the opposite.
“So rather than taking funds away from public schools, it's actually going to help public schools as well as everyone else who works in the education space," states McKneely.
