Iowans need school choice

The Iowa legislature is considering school choice legislation that would provide opportunities for more students to attend private schools. If your child’s public school is performing poorly, school choice is just what you need.

Using private organizations to provide public services is common and, in most cases, uncontroversial. Medicare recipients use private hospitals, for example. Students use publicly funded scholarships at private colleges.

School choice, on the other hand, is controversial because public school teachers have so much political influence. They want to protect public schools for the pay and the extraordinary job security.

If you’re on the side of the teachers, then, by all means, you should oppose school choice. If you’re on the side of the students, however, you should let parents choose the best schools for their children.

George Olmsted

Cedar Rapids

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