Survey indicates parents want school choice

Posted: June 25, 2008 04:47 PM CDT
Updated: June 25, 2008 05:37 PM CDT
A survey of Oklahomans suggests there's a significant disconnect between where our kids go to school and where parents would like them to go.
A survey found that 92% of Oklahoma students attend regular public schools. But, if parents had the choice, only 17% would choose to send their kids to public schools.
Some lawmakers are pushing to give parents more choice. The move is getting support from both sides of the aisle.

"In this state, there's a lot of potential for the school choice issue to be a bridge builder for policy-makers. There are no partisan lines drawn among likely voters, and many different demographics show high levels of support for school choice," said Paul DiPerna with the Friedman Foundation.
A bill that would have created a privately supported scholarship fund for students from lower income families passed the Oklahoma Senate last session, but was defeated in the Oklahoma House of Representatives.

Missouri has faced similar challenges...have have had bills going through the legislature many times...only to be defeated. Of course, the teacher unions have always stepped in...their lobbying powers are extreme. Teachers are great, but the unions seem to suck the goodness out and replace it with something that only serves to further hurt the children and their education.
I will hold onto the fact I know the movement will grow stronger day by day, and we may finally have a school system that I can say I am proud of.