By: Mark Glennon*
Never mind for now that school choice is, as it’s often called, the most important civil rights matter of our time. We are used to Illinois politicians neglecting real issues.
What’s baffling is their disregard for their own political interests. Few causes today have as much bipartisan public support as school choice. That support cuts across ethnic and political fault lines of any kind and is growing rapidly.
It’s therefore no surprise that “school choice is on the march,” as a Monday Forbes column was headlined, regarding action in other states. Countless similar stories during this School Choice Week are appearing around the country.
In Illinois, however, dead silence. We hear barely a word from incumbents and challengers alike, in both parties.
Evidence from polls is overwhelming that school choice is not a controversial issue. Why don’t Illinois politicians recognize that and act?
- A June poll by RealClear Opinion Research of registered voters found 74% support school choice compared to 16% opposed, with 83% of Republicans, 69% of Independents, and 70% of Democrats saying they strongly or somewhat support school choice. That’s a big increase from their April 2020 poll. Overall support increased from 64% to 74%. Government school parent support has increased from 68% to 80%; and Democrat support has increased from 59% to 70%.
- An October Morning Consult poll found strong support for all the various forms of school choice programs: 80% support Education Savings Accounts (ESAs), 76% support voucher programs and 75% support charter schools. Among all adults, strong majorities also supported school choice programs, with 70% supporting ESAs, 64% supporting vouchers and 67% supporting charter schools.
- Polling by EdChoice last year found support ranging from 66 to 78% for vouchers, ESAs, tax-credit scholarships and charter schools, and much higher for parents. A majority of teachers, too, support school choice according to their polling.
- A survey this month by National School Choice Week found that 62% of Black parents and 59% of Hispanic or Latino parents indicated they considered or are considering new schools, compared with 47% of white parents.
Those are national polls but there is no reason to think Illinois is much different. The evidence we have for Illinois is similar. EdChoice’s survey found that 64% of all Illinois adults and 78% of Illinois parents support school choice policies. And earlier this year, when Gov. JB Pritzker proposed to reduce the amount of the one, small school choice tax credit program Illinois has, polling showed that 61% of Illinois voters support the bipartisan program, a 7-point increase since October 2020, including 71% of Black voters, 81% of Latino voters and 67% of Democratic voters.
The better reason for school choice is one we would hope that progressives, in particular, would recognize. It’s overwhelmingly minorities and the disadvantaged who are stuck in Illinois schools that are abject failures. More prosperous Illinoisans have choice because they have the means to choose private schools when government schools fail. Equality demands choice for all.
It’s no accident, therefore, that Robert Enlow was initially attracted as a young man to Liberation Theology, which is about concern for the poor and liberation of oppressed people. Today, he is president and CEO of EdChoice, a leader in the school choice movement. Listen to our recent podcast where he joined as a guest.
We would prefer that politicians hear voices like Enlow’s and act on principle. But failing that, is it too much to ask for political expedience? Please, give voters what they want.
*Mark Glennon is founder of Wirepoints.
Read more about school choice and the crisis in Illinois education:
- Wall Street Journal Column by Wirepoints’ Dabrowski and Klingner: Why the Chicago Teachers Union Always Gets What It Wants
- Chicago’s public schools are broken. It’s time to give parents school choice. – Op-Ed by Wirepoints’ Glennon and Dabrowski
- Wirepoints Podcast: The Dialogue – Episode 19: From Liberation Theology to School Choice: Robert Enlow of EdChoice
- Give in to the most militant teachers union in the country and this is what you get: Another walkout
- How can 84% of Chicago Public Schools students graduate when only 26% of 11th graders are proficient in reading, math?
- True inequality: In-class education at Chicago’s Catholic schools but remote learning at public schools
- Wirepoints Podcast: The Dialogue – Episode 10 – Former Head of CPS Paul Vallas on Illinois’ Path to School Choice
- They Aren’t Telling The Truth About Illinois’ Pending ‘Culturally Responsive Teaching Standards’
- Families continue to flee Chicago Public Schools as it loses 14,000 students in 2022, more than 100,000 since 2000
- The fiscal insanity in Chicago continues. Despite $22.7 billion pension shortfall, Chicago Public Schools to add 2,000 employee
- Chicago Public Schools fiasco continues: Just half of teachers show up to class as CTU threatens strike to keep schools closed
- Illinois’ regressive pension funding scheme: wealthiest school districts benefit most – Wirepoints Special Report
- Illinoisans would pay 40% less in property taxes if the state spent at levels where students perform better: Florida
- New U.S. Census data: Illinois education spending soars while outcomes flatline – Wirepoints Special Report
Expect no retraction or apology. This what they do.
The state’s existing buyout program for its own pensions is the precedent for Chicago, which should be a warning: Look out for similar exaggerated claims and shoddy analysis.
There is only one insidious reason why School Choice has not become mainstream: Teacher’s unions. This is the true systemic racism. Teacher’s unions care more about job security and compensation than the well-being of the vast majority of minority children. Every Republican office holder in this state should be saying one thing during every interview, TV appearance, press conference and debate: “Democrats care more about teacher’s union money than they do minority children. Don’t ever lecture me about systemic racism until you have challenged each and every Democrat in this state with this ultimatum of teacher’s unions vs minority children.”… Read more »
Where are Republicans on this issue? I am fed up with Republicans in Illinois telling us they can’t do anything because they aren’t in the majority. That’s horse hockey! Does that mean they can’t “gin” up their base WHILE they still have a base? Why can’t they speak up, invite us to meetings, listen to what we have to say, send out mailers, do media interviews, write bill’s, challenge Democrats IN EVERY WAY? Are they afraid to put themselves out there because they might not get elected again? Are they too used to their paychecks and pensions to do what… Read more »
Right, Marie. I just don’t get it. This issue is a softball pitched to them waiting to be slammed out of the park.
Pastor Corey Brooks is fighting for school choice too. Maybe we can get all School Choice Supporters to address Illinois legislature?
https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/rooftop-revelations-how-are-people-who-block-school-choice-any-different-from-george-wallace
The disdain for the populace is the depressing thing. At least it depresses the hell out of me. I used to be a Democrat and I’ve gotten fed up with their elitist, hypocritical bullshit and their their Outrageous Russia Collusion fiasco. I hate Trump, but he got a total raw deal with the FISA warrants. I’m an independent now and rarely vote for a Democrat anymore, especially in Illinois. Our political system is so corrupt and it costs so much money to even enter the fray that ALL of our elected officials are prostitutes. They sell their souls to get… Read more »
“I wonder if any of you cult members out there doubt for o e second that if it was BLM, capital police would have been well armed, there would have been far more shot and killed, and Fox would have been cheering on the cops. You’re a G D liar. Why do you have to make stuff up? Did you forget about the summer of love during 2020 when the white house was attacked by BLM rioters and Trump had to go into a bunker, and then was ridiculed for it? Or how about the protests in DC all summer… Read more »
This whole Capital Riot thing was endorsed by Nancy Pelosi. You have to remember Rules for Radicals. Nancy make sure that we focus on all the ruckus, issues and b.s. on the right hand side while she is silently focusing on voting rights and taking the next election away from the Republicans on the left hand side. We have to start looking at both sides. Pelosi is sneaky and she is taking our attention away from what she’s really doing to the country. Don’t let her do it.
Last week Pastor Corey Brooks had 2 gentlemen from Georgia talking about school choice and options for trades so kids learn practical skills with pipeline to job offers. See Rooftop Revelations, https://www.foxnews.com/category/us/digital-originals/rooftop-revelations Here’s a snip from Day 61: “It’ll be an all-boys boarding school in the city of Albany. We’re teaching children different skilled trades, welding, firearms training. We’re teaching them how to work on cars, work on houses, different projects, such as STEM,” Randall said. An earlier version of the “program already has a 86% reading comprehension rate coming from a city where so many children can’t read.” My… Read more »
Is this because of the heavy Union control?
If you have to ask the question, you already know the answer.
Couldn’t agree with you more, not every kid wants to become a white collar worker. Unfortunately CPS and CTU are more concerned with training them to be socialists than giving them real world job skills.