School choice does not harm education

The Sun Sentinel wrote an editorial stating their opinion on why money for school choice is bad. Unfortunately, their view of the education world did not look at the total picture but only the facts that supported their position.

Education Week released their K-12 Achievement Index, updated with the most recent federal data. The score is a comprehensive assessment of student performance which factors in math and reading proficiency at both the 4th and 8th-grade level, high school graduation rates and advanced placement (AP) levels and test scores.

When calculating achievement, the money spent was not the issue only results.

Florida catapulted, in this ranking, from an already impressive 11th to now having the 4th highest K-12 achievement ranking in the nation! Florida is also home to what is by far the most expansive school choice program in the nation. So, while it’s obviously inappropriate to conclude that a full-throated embrace of school choice is why Florida’s schools perform so well, it would seem to throw cold water on the claims of some that school choice harms education.

The other issue is money for education. Florida ranked 48th in per-pupil spending but 4th in K-12 achievement. New York with its whopping $19.348 per student, more than double Florida’s spending, Number 1 in spending was 21st in achievement. Vermont with its $17,592, also more than double Florida at Number 2 in spending was 20th in achievement.

There are two problems with the Sun Sentinel editorial on school choice. The first is that it is not the State’s money, it is the taxpayer’s money. It is also not the teacher’s union money. The teacher union lobbying should not decide where the taxpayer education money is spent.

Doug Cohen

Boynton Beach