VOUCHERS NOT ABOUT CHOICE BUT WHO HAS IT
By Robert B. Aguirre
Houston Chronicle, February 9, 2002

The national school choice debate has finally reached the U.S. Supreme Court.

On Feb. 20, our highest court is scheduled to hear arguments concerning a Cleveland, Ohio, voucher program that provides low-income and mostly minority children equal educational opportunity.

What a concept! The program offers participants vouchers worth up to $2,500 to pay all or part of the tuition at a public, private or religious school of their choice, or for tutoring. It engages parents -- mostly minority parents -- and gives them, for the first time, the opportunity to take responsibility for making educational decisions for their children.

Opponents argue that by including religious schools, the program fosters religion. Objectors include the politically powerful and well-funded teachers' unions -- the National Education Association and the American Federation of Teachers -- who feel that their economic interest in the "education industry" is at stake.

Imagine that: Their economic interest vs. opportunity for children. Do we see something wrong with this picture? Our organization, the Hispanic Council for Reform and Educational Options, or CREO, joined with the Center for Education Reform in filing an amicus (friend of the court) brief urging the Supreme Court to find that the program, which for six years has given Cleveland's neediest children vouchers to enroll in schools of their choice, is a much needed tool to put a good education within their grasp. But for those who would oppose it, it really isn't about choice, it's all about who has it.

The future of this country rests on having a strong and successful public education system. But to achieve this, that system must serve the public good. The current system is not doing that in many of our urban districts. In fact, if we are totally truthful about it, the current system of public education is the most effective, the most successful and the most enduring racial segregation mechanism in our history.

It's the truth. Sadly. If we are to break the sustenance of the urban poverty industry, we must have educated citizens. And this is especially true of minorities.

When the high court hears oral arguments next week, the opposition will set forth a host of reasons why Cleveland's children should not be given equal educational opportunity. They will make strong and compelling arguments to be sure. But in the end, the justices must ask themselves the same question that we all must ask: How is that argument more important than the life of a child?

Over the past five years there have been numerous national surveys that show overwhelming support for school choice -- especially by African-Americans and Latinos. Among the latter, the group that we represent, nationwide support is more than 70 percent. And that support exceeds 80 percent for parents under the age of 35. Similar levels of support hold true for African-Americans as well.

There is also every indication that the vast majority of urban federal and state legislators send their children to private schools. In the inner-city districts, few teachers send their children to public schools.

Remember: The issue isn't school choice; the real issue is who has it. When the U.S. Supreme Court renders its decision this summer the justices will have the chance to present to our nation's children something that will change their lives forever: opportunity.

Win or lose, one thing is clear. It is not a matter of if, it's only a matter of when. Justice will prevail.

This article also appeared in the San Antonio Express News.

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Aguirre, based in San Antonio, is chairman of the Hispanic Council for Reform and Educational Options. His group has joined with the Center for Education Reform in filing an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court supporting choices for Cleveland, Ohio's poorest children.

Link here for CER's full coverage of the Ohio School Choice Program.

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