Education freedom is on the move around the country. Today, 29 states and the District of Columbia have at least one program that allows families to move children from failing schools to alternative education options that better meet the children’s needs. These policies have gained support from Republicans and Democrats alike, even as political parties have become increasingly polarized. According to a recent survey, 66% of Democrats, 80% of Republicans, and 69% of Independents support school choice.
The recent successes of the educational freedom movement are due to the tireless work of people like Virginia Walden Ford, one of the leading advocates for parent empowerment. Virginia has dedicated her life to creating better educational opportunities for children across the country, forming a grassroots organization called D.C. Parents for School Choice in 1998. She is an expert on what more can be done to build on existing successes and make school choice a reality for millions more children around the country.
Virginia graciously responded to questions prepared by ACE Scholarships CEO Norton Rainey, focused on the importance of bipartisan cooperation in the school choice movement.
NR: School choice used to be seen as a strictly Republican policy. Why do you think many more Democrats and Independents support school choice policies now?
For the first time since I can remember, people across the political spectrum are thinking about the children when it comes to school choice. Democrats have said, we understand this has been a fight for many years between the two parties. Now, we have to look at what's happening with the children. If we have to change our positions, we will.
NR: What gaps have these Democrats/Independents filled in the school choice movement? What are they seeing that an all-Republican coalition would miss in advocating for school choice?
Democrats and Independents are seeing that school choice is not a political issue; it's about children. People are starting to see the success of the school choice programs enacted. Through the years, I've seen people's minds change when they see children who weren't doing well in schools, and how effective school choice can be in launching those children into success.
NR: What is the main reason for your support of school choice and how has your background contributed to your belief in the power of school choice?
I'm from Arkansas and was among the second group of black students to attend the previously all-white Little Rock Central High School after desegregation. I remember my parents saying to me, "you and your sister will go to Central. You'll have an opportunity to get a better education." The library and facilities were amazing. But at that time, I wanted to go to the all-black school because that's where my sister and most people I knew were going. I remember saying to my parents, “I don't want to do this.” What my dad said in response changed my life. He said, "you have a responsibility to attend Central. If you don't, it will impact your two sisters." I understood that, and so I went. It was not easy in 1966. We weren't fully welcome. We felt invisible. It was hard, but I graduated and went to college, and once I became a parent, I realized the impact that going to a school with better educational facilities had.
I have three children. My two older kids are very academically driven. Even in segregated schools they found a way to do okay. But my younger son needed a different environment. People didn't have faith that he would do well, so he was getting in trouble and making bad decisions. Nobody seemed to understand that he needed something different; he needed to be excited about school.
That was when I decided to talk to other parents. I connected with a member of Congress and realized that if we could find a way to have our families choose better schools, maybe it would make a difference for our kids.
That was when the fight started -- with a bunch of us. Some people say I did everything myself; I did not. If it hadn't been for the excitement of a lot of African American mothers, this fight would not have gone forward.
Up until that point, parents were afraid to say something. You'd stay home hoping and praying your child did well. But then, we realized some Republicans and Democrats were willing to find out what they could do to make a difference.
NR: What specific efforts have you made to advance school choice, and how have these initiatives been received across different political groups?
Early on, I read an article discussing the Children's Scholarship Fund that John Walton and Ted Forstmann started for low-income families in D.C., and I knew that this would be something that would work for our families. We wanted to be able to choose better educational opportunities for our children.
Representative Dick Armey (R-TX) and others were talking about potential scholarship programs. We spoke before that committee.
Representative Jeff Flake (R-AZ) wrote a piece of legislation that would provide scholarships for kids.
We started our work in DC, but at that time Milwaukee had enacted a school choice program and it became inspiring. If other people could do it, maybe we could. I remember testifying before that committee and saying our kids are failing, they're dropping out. We have to do something about it or their futures are going to be messed up. It was a quest for my son, but for all the kids in D.C. at that point – and, ultimately, all kids in America.
We listened, we learned, and we sought help. Help came, and that was beautiful.
We got a grant from the Walton Family Foundation and were able to knock on doors and get a group together that felt the way we felt. I believe strongly in coalitions. You have to meet people that have the same interests you have that are willing to stand with you.
NR: What are some common misconceptions about educational freedom that you encounter from the Left and the Right, and how do you address them?
Educators thought that low-income parents didn't know what was best for their kids. One night we had an event where parents were asked to put together lists of what their kids needed to thrive. Nobody expected these parents to do a thorough job. In reality, the lists parents put together were amazing and detailed. Low-income parents who didn't have the kind of education they deserve are even more enthusiastic about making sure that their children don't fall into the same rut. We need to see and respect that.
Another misconception in the African American community is that we shouldn't abandon the public schools that our people died to get into in favor of private schools. What they're missing is that we fought to get into schools that would serve kids well -- with better materials and better equipment. It wasn't about what type of school it was. When the traditional public school doesn't serve our kids well, it's not fair to keep them there.
What we're fighting for is a better-quality education. Period. Some public schools are doing a good job. What I'm fighting for is getting the best education possible for our children, whether that's a public school, private school, charter school, homeschool, microschool, or something else.
NR: How have you seen school choice programs aid students from underprivileged backgrounds?
For a while, I had my youngest son in a private school, and he began to thrive. I asked him what was different about this school experience in comparison to the public school, and he said, "they really care about me and what I learn. Up until now, the only person I believed cared about me was you."
I couldn't keep up with the payments and eventually had to withdraw him, even though I was working two or three jobs at the time. That was the moment I decided no parent should ever have to feel the way I was feeling. We have to make sure we do something to put parents in the position where we're not always failing. That's when I started D.C. Parents for School Choice.
It wasn't just me. I watched the mothers around me feel helpless and hopeless. They would speak up about what their children needed, but they were dismissed. People thought that mothers shouldn't have a say in how to save their children. In reality, we have every right to fight for our children, and we know what they need best. Parents should be partners in the education of their kids.
I look at my son now, who is a fine young man, and we often talk about where he'd be if I hadn't fought for him. If we don't stop politicizing school choice, we'll lose our kids.
NR: How do you see the future of school choice evolving, and what role will bipartisan support play in that evolution?
We are going to continue supporting kids and families from both sides of the aisle. The amount of legislation passed in the past two years has been thrilling. I didn't expect it. Before the pandemic, I was worried that people would consider this a partisan issue. Instead, we've seen people from both sides of the aisle step up and fight for the kids.
NR: What advice would you give to educators and policymakers who are skeptical about the benefits of school choice?
Keep in touch with who you're serving. Period.
Educators, remember that as you bring parents in as partners, you are all working towards the same goal: to make sure that every child has the benefit of a positive education -- as they deserve.
Legislators, listen to your constituents and what their needs are.
Norton Rainey is CEO of ACE Scholarships
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