It’s always a good idea to define terms at the outset of a public policy conversation. Unfortunately, that’s a rule not often followed.

Words are powerful, friends. They can powerfully inform, they can powerfully persuade, and they can powerfully mask reality, glossing it over with feel-good buzz words to garner our support or acceptance. “School Choice” is no different.

“Choice”

“Savings”

“Freedom”

Aren’t you ready to sign up when you hear those words?

But here’s the truth:

“School Choice”

“School Choice” is really about funding.

Now, some may object that “school choice” means the ability to choose which public school or public charter school to send your child to, even when those schools are outside of the district in which you live. And to that I say, yes. That’s a good use of the term “school choice.” But that’s not the “school choice” movement that’s sweeping state legislatures as I type.

You might also say that “school choice” just means the freedom or ability of parents to choose options other than public school. And I would say that’s another accurate use of the term. But the reality is that in all 50 states parents may ALREADY choose to pursue the private education of their choice and which fits their budget and priorities.

So when politicians are promoting “school choice” programs these days, they’re offering something other than the freedom to choose. They’re offering public funding for private education.

“Education Savings Accounts”

“Education Savings Accounts” may be the fastest-growing form of “school choice” among governors and state legislators today (I’m looking at you, AZ, AR, FL, IA, IN, MS, NH, SC, TN, [TX,] UT, WV). But they aren’t savings accounts at all.

You don’t put your money in them. You don’t get money from them. They’re funded by the government with money that travels through your hands and into vendor/provider hands. ESAs are really Education Subsidy Accounts.

“Education Freedom Accounts”

The cleverly-named “Education Freedom Accounts” in my home state of Arkansas (and New Hampshire) work the same way. They’re really Education Funding Accounts. And yes, you actually trade freedom for those funds.

There’s no such thing as free lunch. You pay for that money with decreased privacy, increased regulation, and psuedo-choice on the “approved vendors” market.

I suppose I could have also taken a shot at the fact that politicians promoting “school choice” programs like to tell us that their initiatives are pro- “free market.” But in reality, they’re pro- public-private partnerships, luring both buyers and sellers into a government-monitored and government-regulated market. A once-free market will be free no more. But teasing out market impacts is a task for another day.

The Bottom Line:

You already have the CHOICE. You are already FREE. The question is who funds your child’s education? And what freedom are you willing to trade for state funding?

That’s a trade I’m not willing to make.

It’s National School Choice Week, and I’m beginning to release the findings of my 7-month deep dive on this subject. Be sure to subscribe here on the blog and follow me on Facebook and Instagram so you can stay informed and share this important information with others (starting with this blog post? 😉 ). The freedom of private and home education is at stake. Multiple state legislatures are in session debating this issue RIGHT NOW. Thank you for helping me to get the word out.