Should Progressives Reconsider School Choice?
For decades, the American Left has positioned itself as the defender of public education. Teachers’ unions, equitable funding campaigns, and opposition to privatization have been cornerstones of progressive education policy. But as debates over “school choice” intensify—charter schools, vouchers, and education savings accounts—many on the Left face a dilemma: Should they cling to traditional ideals or adapt to a shifting landscape where alternatives to district schools are gaining momentum?
The question isn’t merely philosophical. In states like Arizona and Florida, conservative lawmakers have expanded school choice programs, framing them as tools for parental empowerment. Meanwhile, progressive strongholds like California and New York remain skeptical, arguing that such policies drain resources from public schools and exacerbate inequality. Yet the growing demand for alternatives—from low-income families in underperforming districts to parents seeking specialized programs—suggests that the status quo isn’t working for everyone. Could reimagining school choice through a progressive lens offer a path forward?
The Case for Skepticism
Progressives’ wariness of school choice isn’t unfounded. Critics point to troubling patterns:
– Privatization Risks: Voucher programs often redirect tax dollars to private institutions, including religious schools, raising concerns about church-state separation and accountability.
– Cream-Skimming: Charter schools, while publicly funded, sometimes cherry-pick students, leaving traditional schools with higher concentrations of students requiring costly support services.
– Erosion of Labor Rights: Many charter networks operate without unionized teachers, undermining hard-won workplace protections.
These aren’t hypothetical fears. In Milwaukee, one of the nation’s oldest voucher programs has shown mixed academic results while contributing to racial and socioeconomic segregation. Similarly, studies of charter schools reveal uneven performance, with some outperforming district schools and others failing spectacularly.
Yet dismissing all school choice models as inherently “anti-public education” oversimplifies the issue—and may leave progressives sidelined in shaping policies that are already reshaping education.
Why the Left Might Lean In
What if school choice could be reengineered to align with progressive values? Consider these possibilities:
1. Addressing Systemic Inequities
Public schools in the U.S. remain starkly segregated by race and class, despite decades of reform efforts. For families trapped in underfunded districts, school choice—when properly regulated—could provide lifelines. Imagine a system where vouchers prioritize low-income students, charter schools must meet strict diversity targets, and transportation costs are subsidized to ensure access.
Progressive cities like Denver have experimented with “controlled choice” models that balance family preferences with integration goals. Such approaches acknowledge that simply pouring money into broken systems won’t magically fix deeply entrenched disparities.
2. Empowering Marginalized Communities
School choice isn’t just a conservative talking point. Black and Hispanic families, particularly in urban areas, have increasingly supported charter schools and vouchers as alternatives to chronically neglected neighborhood schools. Prominent civil rights groups have clashed over the issue, revealing a nuanced debate within communities disproportionately affected by educational inequality.
As progressive commentator David Osborne argues, “When public schools fail children year after year, defending the system becomes indefensible.” Supporting high-quality, non-profit charters or magnet programs tailored to underserved populations could align with social justice principles.
3. Catalyzing Innovation
Traditional districts often struggle to implement bold reforms due to bureaucratic inertia. School choice models, when designed with equity in mind, can pilot progressive priorities: trauma-informed curricula, vocational training tied to local industries, or dual-language immersion programs. Boston’s Pilot Schools—public schools with charter-like autonomy—have used flexibility to reduce achievement gaps while remaining unionized and accountable to the district.
4. Preventing a Conservative Monopoly
By refusing to engage with school choice, the Left risks ceding ground to libertarian reformers pushing for unfettered privatization. States like West Virginia have passed universal voucher bills with minimal safeguards, allowing taxpayer funds to flow to unaccredited private academies with discriminatory admissions. Progressives could counter this by advocating for “public school choice” systems that expand options within the public sector, such as intra-district transfers or themed schools focused on STEM, arts, or environmental science.
Navigating the Pitfalls
Embracing school choice doesn’t mean endorsing a free-for-all. Key safeguards would be essential:
– Accountability: All publicly funded schools—including charters and voucher-accepting privates—must adhere to anti-discrimination laws, transparent admissions, and standardized assessments.
– Funding Protections: Voucher programs should supplement rather than replace district budgets, preventing the defunding spiral seen in states like Arizona.
– Teacher Protections: Expand union representation to charter schools and enforce fair labor practices across all education sectors.
A Middle Path?
Some districts are blending choice with progressive priorities. New York City’s District 15 recently eliminated middle school admissions screens, using a lottery system to promote socioeconomic integration. California’s “community schools” initiative invests in neighborhood hubs with wrap-around services, combining choice-like customization with public oversight.
These experiments suggest that innovation and equity aren’t mutually exclusive. The challenge lies in scaling such models without replicating the failures of earlier choice experiments.
The Cost of Inaction
The alternative—doubling down on opposition—carries its own risks. As pandemic-era learning loss widens achievement gaps and parents grow impatient with glacial reform, demand for alternatives will likely grow. If progressives don’t craft their own vision for school choice, others will fill the vacuum with policies that prioritize market forces over communal responsibility.
This isn’t about abandoning public education but redefining what “public” means in a pluralistic society. Can schools be both publicly accountable and diverse in pedagogy? Can choice coexist with equity? For the Left, the answer may determine whether they lead the next chapter of education reform—or find themselves resisting a future shaped by others.
In the end, the question isn’t whether to embrace school choice but how to mold it into a tool for justice. That requires not just skepticism but creativity—and the courage to challenge old orthodoxies.
Please indicate: Thinking In Educating » Should Progressives Reconsider School Choice