New bill shows school choice is a rare bipartisan issue
Help may soon be on the way for Missouri families with students who are trapped in a failing public school.
A new bill in the state House would greatly expand the role of charter schools throughout the state of Missouri, and it would empower parents to choose the most effective school for their child.
Under current law, charter schools are permitted only in St. Louis and Kansas City. House Bill 473, sponsored by Rep. Tishaura Jones, D-St. Louis, would allow charter schools to expand into the rest of the state, giving options to families with children who are sentenced to a lackluster education simply because they live in the wrong neighborhood.
The state’s teacher unions have given every indication that they will oppose this bill because of their own selfish interests. Since charter school teachers are typically not unionized, the unions oppose this bill. Once again, the teacher unions’ chief concern is about money, power and control – instead of what is in the best interests of Missouri’s children.
We believe that this legislation is further proof that parents all across the nation want more control over how their children are educated. In fact, HB 473 was introduced on Feb. 10, less than two weeks after parents and taxpayers rallied across the nation for new, more innovative education options as part of the inaugural “ National School Choice Week.”
Also noteworthy is the fact that Rep. Tishaura Jones, the bill’s sponsor, is a Democrat. Traditionally, the Democratic Party has been the faithful political surrogates of the teacher unions. It is encouraging to see that the school choice movement is becoming even more bipartisan.
Rep. Jones deserves a lot of credit for putting the interests of Missouri’s students ahead of the interests of the teacher unions. Both Democrats and Republicans understand that charter schools provide an excellent alternative to unionized government schools.
All children should have access to a quality education that prepares them for life. Increasing school options for Missouri families is an effective way of ensuring that all students receive a quality education.
