Keep the Dream Alive, Give Parents a Choice

Citizens for a Sound Economy (CSE) today called for the need to improve educational opportunities at all economic levels.

“Today, as the nation celebrates Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday, it is appropriate to look to ways to improve educational for those most in need,” said CSE President Paul Beckner. “For parents with children trapped in failing schools, it is time to give them a choice.”

“All parents – regardless of income or location – should be able to give their children a chance at a quality education. That is what equal opportunity is all about. That is what Dr. King’s dream is all about.” — Paul Beckner, President, Citizens for a Sound Economy

The Rev. Floyd Flake, a former Democratic Member of Congress, strongly supports school choice. He and his wife run their own private school in New York City. He believes that if public schools don’t work, parents should have a choice of where to send their children.

When parents are given a choice, they respond dramatically. The Children’s Scholarship Fund, which provides tuition assistance to low income families to attend private schools received more than 250,000 applications.

In Milwaukee, after four years in a state-funded voucher program, low-income students performed 11 percentile points better in math and 6 points better in reading than similar students who did not receive vouchers.

After one year, Cleveland students receiving state-funded scholarships scored higher in language, math, reading and social studies than similar public schools.

In Baltimore, 44 percent of families eligible for a private scholarship program applied to give their children an opportunity to attend a better school.

School Choice provides more opportunities – it does not harm the public school system. As Lt. Governor of Florida, Frank Brogan has stated, “Show me where the public schools have gone away. Take me to Milwaukee – the public schools still exist. Take me to Cleveland – the public schools still exist.” This is about giving parents a voice.

“All parents – regardless of income or location – should be able to give their children a chance at a quality education,” Beckner said. “That is what equal opportunity is all about. That is what Dr. King’s dream is all about.”