Increasing Choice for Students, Not Penalties for Parents

Increasing Choice for Students, Not Penalties for Parents

Florida is the nation’s leader in expanding access to improve learning outcomes for all students, especially those trapped in failing schools. Earlier this month, the Sun-Sentinel published an article about Broward County School District’s plan to hire a private investigator to find out if some parents are using fake addresses to get their children into better school zones.

In the editorials below, read two responses to the boundaries discussion from Patricia Levesque, Executive Director of the Foundation for Florida’s Future, and Estefania Nunez-Brady of Step Up for Students.

 

Sun-Sentinel: School Boundaries that trap kids are the real problem

By: Patricia Levesque

Foundation for Florida’s Future

“School districts like Broward obviously have a problem. But long term, the answer is not building walls around schools. It is breaking down walls and giving parents more choices in which schools to send their children.

“…Finding the right educational fit for children should not necessitate that parents falsify forms to jump boundaries. The size of their paychecks should not determine whether or not they have a say in where their children go to school.”

 

 

Sun-Sentinel: Parents need more control over kids’ school
By: Estefania Nunez-Brady
Step Up For Students

“My parents had only been in America for four years. Money was tight, and they didn’t know the system. So my parents did something thousands of other public-school parents feel forced to do. They lied about where we lived so I could go to a school where I would feel safe.

“…Our schools shouldn’t leave parents with few options other than to lie. Creating new options for disadvantaged families can help our education system serve all students better.”