Research says: School choice programs help battle segregation

Despite passionate arguments from opposing advocates, school choice is overwhelmingly approved of by minority families (over 67% of Hispanic and black voters) and creates equal playing fields for diverse student groups. Educational commentator Larry Sand rebuts the “choice is racist” talking point, indicating research studies that prove the opposite: School choice reduces educational segregation, freeing low-income students from attending their often-failing local school. To receive daily updates of new Opp Now stories, click here.

Jon Hale, a professor of educational history at the University of Illinois and author of The Choice We Face, penned a piece for the Chicago Tribune which claims that “school choice was grounded in racism from the start.” The logical fallacies in the article are flagrant. While some parents did use choice for racial reasons back in the day, to suggest that choice in and of itself is racist is farcical. It’s akin to saying that some people use money for nefarious purposes, hence money is evil.

In the real world, the “choice is racist” zealots have no arrows in their quivers. In fact, it is our current zip code-mandated education system that fosters racism, as most neighborhoods are not well integrated, neither are the schools. A system of universal choice simply allows parents to expand their education options. As researcher Greg Forster reports, ten empirical studies have examined private school choice programs on segregation and nine found that the programs reduced it, while one found no visible difference.

Additionally, the American Federation for Children reports that 65% of voters support school choice, with 69% of Blacks and 67% of Hispanics in favor, according to a recently released survey. An EdChoice poll shows that when given a fair description of school choice types, a great majority are in approval. For example, 80% of Black and Hispanic parents support ESAs, and 76% of White parents are in favor. Finally, another poll by EdChoice speaks volumes. While 83% of children attend government-run schools today, only 39% of parents (of all colors) would choose those schools if given the option. 

This article originally appeared in the California Policy Center. Read the whole thing here.

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