Though it prides itself on individualism and individual liberty, the United States has a one-size-fits-all education system that too often falls short of those ideals. Many students are stuck in an education framework based on where they live, regardless of their pursuits and long-term goals. Where choice exists, it’s mostly all or nothing: enrolling in a district or charter school may mean forfeiting other opportunities. Middle and high school students can sometimes explore classes based on their interests – but what if they were given even more options?
The pandemic exposed an education system unable to adapt to changing needs. Many months after school buildings shut down, the delivery of remote instruction still leaves many students disconnected and struggling. At the same time, millions of parents gained a front-row seat to their children’s education and got a firsthand view of what works and what doesn’t. This experience offers insight into what education can and should be, even in normal times.
The Mackinac Center’s Flex Learning plan puts a new level of control into the hands of students and parents who want it. Under it, middle and high school students stay enrolled at a district or charter school. But they also can use shares of their per-pupil funding to “purchase” individual courses and other learning opportunities from across the state, as long as these offerings are provided or sponsored by another public education entity.
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