It’s National School Choice Week, a time to shine the spotlight on the need for effective education options for all children. Regardless of what options you believe work best, the evidence to support the concept of school choice is clear, convincing, and compelling.

Indeed, when parents are empowered to select the best educational environments for their children – public schools, private schools, public charter schools, magnet schools, homeschooling, and virtual education – student achievement rises, student attainment increases, parental satisfaction skyrockets, and communities are revitalized.

America needs school choice—and more of it.

But throughout this week, the question I am asked most often about education in America is “why?”

The question is not: “why do we need school choice?” For the most part, everyone I’ve talked to this week, from cab drivers to flight attendants to television producers to doctors and lawyers and reporters – see the need for educational options. Americans know that our education system is in dire straits, and they want their leaders to pass and implement the boldest of school choice options for families.

But instead, I’m asked: why did we—the greatest nation on earth—allow our K-12 education system to devolve so tragically, to the point Read More