I am astonished at the backlash from the Big Education establishment to the idea of giving poor families the same educational opportunity that more wealthy families can already access. Yet, that is the stark reality we are experiencing. That’s right — North Carolina’s progressives are suing to prevent poor families from receiving an Opportunity Scholarship made possible by the school-choice majority in the General Assembly. John Locke Foundation President John Hood weighs in.
In virtually no other area of public policy are recipients of a government-funded service forbidden from choosing providers that best meet their needs. No one tells Medicare patients what hospitals they must visit. No one tells food-stamp recipients where they must shop. In education, both federal and state governments provide financial assistance to children who attend child care centers and preschools, as well as to students who attend colleges and universities. Their families are free to choose from among public and private providers of these educational services, with nary a peep out of the usual left-wing suspects.
What makes elementary and secondary education a proper exception to this rule? Nothing. The only distinction is that district-run public schools have until recently enjoyed a monopoly. They simply don’t want to give it up.
It was no surprise that the North Carolina Association of Educators and other groups filed suit to block implementation of the new voucher program for the 2014-15 school year. They worry that once thousands of low-income children are enrolled in schools of choice, it will be practically difficult and politically disastrous to strip them of their choice later on.
Weep for the children and the 4,500 that liberals have chosen to deny this opportunity.
