School choice often empowers parents, promotes educational equality, and allows students to attend the best possible schools. Advocates argue that it introduces competition into the public education system, ultimately benefiting everyone by improving quality, fostering innovation, and expanding access to diverse educational opportunities. However, school choice policy is far from a one-size-fits-all solution and comes with challenges. While it may be a well-intentioned reform, several critical problems with school choice must be addressed to improve education for all students truly.
1. Increasing Educational Inequality
One of the most apparent issues with school choice is that it can increase existing educational inequalities, particularly in low-income and marginalized communities. While wealthier families have the resources to move to neighborhoods with better public schools or pay for private school tuition, low-income families often face significant barriers. Even with vouchers or charter school options, transportation, time, and the lack of available options near their homes can prevent these families from taking full advantage of school choice programs. As a result, school choice can deepen the divide between rich and poor students, perpetuating the gap in educational outcomes.
2. Undermining Public Schools
School choice, mainly through the expansion of charter schools and the use of vouchers, can undermine public education systems. Public schools often must accept all students within a particular geographic area, regardless of their needs or backgrounds. In contrast, charter and private schools often have selective admission policies that allow them to cherry-pick the best-performing students, leaving public schools with a more challenging student population, which may impact their overall performance. This can lead to a drain of resources and talent from public schools, further diminishing the quality of education available to those who remain in the system.
Additionally, public school funding is often tied to enrollment numbers, so when students leave public schools for other options, it can take away more resources, especially in underfunded districts. This creates a vicious cycle, where underfunded schools are forced to do more with less, while schools that attract wealthier or more capable students can thrive.
3. Lack of Accountability
While many school choice proponents believe that it increases accountability by introducing competition, in practice, charter and private schools can lack the same level of oversight and accountability as traditional public schools. Public schools are subject to state and federal regulations that require them to follow specific curriculums, test students, and report on educational outcomes. Charter and private schools, however, often have fewer accountability measures, leading to inconsistent educational quality and a lack of transparency.
In some cases, charter schools have been found to mismanage funds, provide subpar education, or even fail to meet the standards set for their operation. Without adequate oversight, these schools could operate with minimal accountability to students, parents, or taxpayers.
4. The Risk of Segregation
Although school choice is often made to increase diversity and inclusivity, it can actually contribute to greater segregation. Many private and charter schools are located in more wealthy areas, and if they are not required to accept students from diverse backgrounds, they can become homogenous and exclusive. Families in lower-income neighborhoods, especially those of color, may find that school choice options are limited, resulting in a concentration of students from specific socioeconomic or racial groups in particular schools.
This phenomenon, sometimes called “skimming,” can contribute to social and racial educational divides. While families in wealthier areas may have access to high-quality schools, those in low-income communities may be left with fewer options, reinforcing societal inequities rather than helping them.
5. Fragmentation of the Educational System
School choice has the potential to fragment the educational system in our country. The rise of charter schools and private institutions can create competing educational “markets” rather than fostering a unified public system. As a result, students may receive very different educational experiences, even within the same city or state. This fragmentation can create a lack of cohesion and make it harder to ensure that all students receive a high-quality education.
Furthermore, it can complicate efforts to create comprehensive educational reforms. If each school operates under different rules, with varying curriculum, teaching methods, and resources, assessing the education system’s overall performance becomes more difficult. Without a transparent, cohesive approach to education, it is harder to make systemic improvements that benefit all students.
6. Inconsistent Quality of Education
The quality of education in schools that participate in choice programs is often inconsistent. While some charter schools or private institutions excel, others struggle to meet the needs of their students. Unlike traditional public schools, which are usually required to follow state standards and provide specific services, charter and private schools may have more leeway in determining their curriculum, teaching practices, and policies. While this can lead to innovation, it also means there are no guarantees about the quality of education students receive.
Parents who choose schools based on reputation or perceived quality may not always find their child’s needs met in the new environment. Additionally, with the growing number of private and charter school options, it can become overwhelming for parents to make the right choice, especially if they lack the information or resources to navigate the system effectively.
7. The Challenge of Special Education
One of the most challenging aspects of school choice is how it affects students with special needs. Public schools are required by law to provide services for students with disabilities, but many charter and private schools are not equipped to meet these needs. While federal and state laws require public schools to provide Individualized Education Plans (IEPs), charter and private schools may lack the resources, staff, or training to support students with disabilities adequately. This leaves some parents with few options for their children and can create a situation where some students are effectively excluded from many school choice opportunities.
Conclusion
While school choice has the potential to provide educational opportunities for some students, it comes with significant challenges that need to be addressed. From increasing inequality to undermining public schools, the impact of school choice is complex and multifaceted. Policymakers must carefully consider these issues and work to ensure that all students, regardless of their background or socioeconomic status, have access to high-quality education. Until these systemic problems are addressed, school choice may not be the solution it is often presented as.
Quick facts:
- According to a longitudinal study by the National Center for Charter School Accountability and Network for Public Education, more than one in four public charter schools shutter within five years, and the longer a charter operates, the higher its failure rate.
- The study, which gathered data from more than 2 million U.S. Department of Education records, found that by year 20, the average failure rate is 55%.
- Based on a nationally representative analysis of news stories, the study concluded that nearly half of charters that closed between the 2022-23 and 2023-24 school years did so due to low enrollment, with the second most common reason being fraud or mismanagement.
Learn more about the problem specifically with school vouchers here.