Parental Choice in Education MYTHS v. FACTS MYTH: “School Choice” will divert money away from the public schools to private schools. • FACT: In states with the oldest and largest educational choice policies, the inflationadjusted per-pupil funding has increased, and the average performance of district schools is as good or better than when the choice policies were first enacted. • FACT: Most students will continue to benefit from a public-school education, because the many advantages offered by public schools, such as sports and other extracurricular activities, are attractive to families. This is not a zero-sum game where private schools win, and public schools lose. It is a win-win for communities when all kids can flourish in the educational setting best suited for them. • FACT: School choice programs may slightly add to the fluctuation of student enrollment, but an overwhelming number of American families are still choosing schools based on ZIP Code. MYTH: “School Choice” gives taxpayer money to wealthy families who send their children to private schools. • FACT: The bishops support prioritizing the poor and vulnerable in any parental choice program. The bills we are supporting prioritize funding for students not currently enrolled in private schools. • FACT: The wealthy currently benefit from school choice because they have the means to pay for private school or the means to move to live in the best public-school districts. The economically disadvantaged should have access to parental choice as well. MYTH: “School Choice” funnels taxpayer dollars to private schools without transparency, accountability, or oversight. • FACT: The bishops only support parental choice policies that limit private school participation to accredited schools. • FACT: The private school accreditation process covers curriculum standards and fiscal oversight in a very responsible way. Accreditation requires that the curricula used in private schools be at least as rigorous as that used in public school, but there is flexibility in that choice.
Jennifer Carr Allmon, Executive Director J e n n i f e r @ T X C a t h o l i c . o r g | 512-339-9882
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