EDITORIAL: Don’t end school choice

Democrats shouldn’t confuse the unpopularity of Donald Trump with a mandate to eliminate popular school choice programs.

For decades, the education establishment has pushed more school funding as the key to improving student achievement. States such as Nevada are ever-chasing the elusive national average in per-pupil funding.

Yet higher spending doesn’t guarantee results. This school year, New York City is spending almost $40,000 per student. That means a classroom of 25 students costs nearly $1 million. But in 2024, the Nation’s Report Card found just 28 percent of the city’s fourth graders were proficient in reading. The Clark County School District, which spends far less, also had 28 percent of its fourth graders score proficient or better.

In response to the decades-long struggles of the public school system, education reformers have pushed for school choice. These programs give families more options by allowing parents to use a portion of the money government would have spent on their child’s public school education on an alternative option. Often that is a private school, but those using education savings accounts can direct funds to expenses such as homeschooling and tutoring.

These programs give parents the ability to select the best school for their child. That helps both the students using these programs and those who remain in public schools. Numerous studies have found that public schools improve when parents have school choice options. Competition is a strong incentive. Polling shows these programs are broadly popular, particularly among disadvantaged families.

School choice typically has more support in Republican-run states. But it shouldn’t be partisan to embrace a fiscally responsible program that helps children reach their academic potential. Unfortunately, choice programs have long drawn the wrath of teacher unions, who prefer the foundering status quo.

Following the Democratic rout in the midterms, many of these programs will soon be under attack. Arizona currently offers its Empowerment Scholarship Accounts to any family in Arizona. Democrats there are already scheming to put new restrictions on the program. Newly ascendant Democrats in Texas have already filed bills to repeal its new school choice program.

Nevada has a small school choice program called Opportunity Scholarships. It receives funding from private contributors who earn a dollar-for-dollar tax credit for their donations. Those credits are limited to $6.7 million annually. The program has helped students to succeed academically and to leave public schools where they faced bullying.

Parents want education options. Democrats, including Gov.-elect Aaron Ford, risk alienating voters if they tear down school choice programs.