QP: Parents Say They Want More School Options for Their Children

Full-text: As K-12 students return to school, more than four-fifths of them will attend a district public school. However, recent polling by EdChoice shows that only 29% of parents say their zoned public school would be their first choice, and about one in four parents say parental choice is one of their top three K-12 education issues. Here are three ways Oregon can expand options for K-12 students and parents: 1.     EdChoice reports that 11% of parents polled would prefer a charter school. Raising Oregon’s cap on charter enrollment would allow successful charter schools to meet student demand. 2.     Thirteen percent of parents said they would prefer to send their children to a public school outside the district where they live. Expanding district transfer policies would create incentives for schools to respond to families’ needs and reward public schools that achieve better outcomes. 3.     Education Savings Account programs receive broad support in polling. Enacting an ESA program would allow parents to use state-level education funding allocated for their children’s education to pay for the schools or services that best meet their learning needs. Seven states now offer universal or near-universal school choice programs. These states provide legislative models that states like Oregon can follow to help children everywhere find their best paths to educational success.