Why does Missiouri need school choice?

Consider this:

Missouri has a long way to go toward ensuring that all students can read at proficient levels.

• 68 percent of Missouri students in 4th grade are not ranked “proficient” in reading
• 69 percent of Missouri students in 8th grade are not ranked “proficient” in reading
  

Source: National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) 2007

Missouri has a long way to go toward improving student math performance.

• 62 percent of Missouri students in 4th grade are not ranked “proficient” in math
• 70 percent of Missouri students in 8th grade are not ranked “proficient” in math
  

Source: National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) 2007

Missouri can do better toward ensuring that students graduate from high school.

• 25 percent of Missouri children never graduate from high school.

Source: Education Week, Quality Counts

Yet, Missouri spends approximately $7,349 to educate each student, every year. Can you imagine if Cole had access to even a portion of those funds for educational resources?!

When parents are given the option to use their tax dollars and choose the best schools for their children — public or private (this includes home schooling) — education in America will improve.

Studies have repeatedly demonstrated that educational freedom has a positive, transformational impact on families, schools, and communities.

Myth: School choice drains funds from public schools that need it most.

Reality: Studies have consistently demonstrated that, with private school choice programs, school districts retain a portion of the funding for each child who leaves the public system. In effect, while some of the money "follows the child" in school choice programs, districts still retain a portion of the per-pupil funding, even though they don’t have to educate the student.

Myth: School choice is just a Republican, right-wing issue.

Reality: School choice is truly a bipartisan issue. In 2007, more than 90 percent of new funding for school choice programs was enacted by Democratic governors or Democratically-controlled state legislatures. Prominent Democratic leaders—such as Newark Mayor Cory Booker, former District of Columbia Mayor Anthony Williams, and former U.S. Representative Carrie Meek—have spoken out in favor of private school choice programs.

Myth: School choice hurts achievement in public schools.

Reality: No study has ever demonstrated that school choice hurts public schools in any way, shape, or form. Without competition and meaningful parental choice, rapid reform and dramatic improvements in public schools will not be realized. When parents are given an option to choose the best schools for their children, public schools will have to resist special interest and improve faster. In fact, studies have demonstrated that school choice programs have lead to an improvement in public school quality.

Source: Alliance for School Choice

Please keep this information in mind when reading about campaign issues, when reaching out to your legislators, and when you vote!