Choice is something that we often take for granted until it is taken away. On some days, the biggest choices we make are what we’re making for lunch or whether we’re going to the gym, on other days, we make choices that can influence the rest of our lives. Parents’ choices not only influence their own lives but also the lives of their children, and that is exactly what the parents who spoke at the Congressional School Choice Caucus meeting on March 25th were fighting for: their ability to make the best possible choices for their children.
The meeting was hosted by Congressman Luke Messer (R-IN), founder and chair of the Congressional School Choice Caucus, and featured parents of children who participate in the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program (OSP). The goal of the caucus is to “expand educational freedom and promote policies that increase high-quality education options for all children.” The four parents who spoke at the meeting highlighted their own experiences with OSP and how it has positively impacted their children. Each parent shared their unique story, but the one common thread throughout the entire meeting was the value of their choice. Parents know how different each of their children are, so why should there be only one system that is perfectly suited to them? Education is not one size fits all.
Congressman Messer stressed his belief that every child should have the opportunity to walk into a classroom where they have a chance to learn, and that is exactly what each one of the parents in attendance wanted for their children. A mother of two who lives in Maryland said, “I wish that I didn’t have to ‘shop’ for schools. But I do and I will, because that is what’s necessary for my children.” Both of her children attend Center City Charter School, and she has found that, despite the vast differences in their learning needs, they are both in an environment that is allowing them to learn.
Though the school choice movement has been growing among the grassroots for some time, Congressman Messer believes that “there is a moment now, it’s time to bring the grassroots up to the federal level.” The stories of people who have directly benefitted from having the ability to choose the best education option for their children will bring people out of the statistics and show them the real-life positive impact that school choice has had on so many families. We need to continue empowering parents to make the best possible decisions for their children’s future.
Bethany Tietjen, CER Intern