School Choice

For many parents the option of sending their child to a school of choice is one that they value dearly.  There are some in our district however, who are opposed to our schools of choice, claiming that these options distort the distribution of students by concentrating students with involved parents at a few schools.  But the more I visit our schools the less convinced I am that this is the case; I don’t feel that it is fair to state that our schools of choice have the market on parent involvement.

I was at one of our elementary schools on Thursday morning and at first glance it appeared that there was an open house taking place.  A steady stream of parents were coming and going from the building.  When I asked the principal about this, I was told that it is the norm to see parents coming in to volunteer.  We all know that it is critical that parents play an active role in their child’s education.  Let’s not point fingers at school choice; it is not a bad thing.  Instead let’s do what this elementary school is doing, encourage and welcome parental involvement.  The district defines most of what happens at a school.  It does not however, limit a school from creating an identity that might be more frequently associated with a school of choice.