By Jeanne Allen
Every August, America goes back to school. The backpacks are packed, buses roll and parents hope their children get the right teacher.
But back to school is different than it used to be. The question is no longer simply whether the schools are ready. It is: Ready for what?
Families are entering an education landscape that has changed dramatically. Parents have more power and more options than they did even five years ago. States are expanding education savings accounts, scholarships and other ways for families to direct their children’s education. New federal scholarship opportunities are approaching. At the same time, educators and entrepreneurs are creating microschools, hybrid schools, classical academies, outdoor programs and learning models that did not fit neatly into yesterday’s system.