Education committee chair: Why school choice is the future of learning in Tennessee

Throughout my teaching career, I have witnessed firsthand how a great education can transform a student's life. It opens doors, creates opportunities and serves as the foundation for a lifetime of success.

The freedom to chart our own course and pursue a brighter future for our children is what makes ours the greatest nation in the world. As Americans, we hold these convictions dear, yet our approach to public education has sometimes contradicted these values.

A good education is not a luxury or a one-size-fits-all solution that works for every student. I believe strongly that no child should be denied great learning opportunities because of where they live or their family’s income.

As a state, we are still recovering from unprecedented learning loss caused by the pandemic. While great strides have been made in several areas like literacy, it is clear multiple solutions are needed to meet the diverse educational needs of Tennessee students.

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School choice puts decisions in taxpayers' hands

Every parent deserves the freedom to choose the best educational path that meets their child's unique needs. For some students, traditional public schools are the answer, while for others, magnet or charter schools serve them better.

We must rethink our approach. Rather than giving families one single solution, let's open all options.

Strong evidence suggests families want school choice, with nearly half of parents saying in a recent survey that their community does not provide enough educational opportunities. More than 64% also wished they had more information about available schooling options for their child.

School choice would give Tennessee families more control over how their tax dollars are used for their children's education. It would also ensure a more tailored approach to addressing the individual learning needs of every student.

Additional educational opportunities could have incredible results here in Tennessee. For example, graduation rates for students who participated in a school choice program in Washington, D.C., increased by 21%. Another study from Milwaukee found that students were more likely to graduate high school and attend a four-year college due to having school choice.

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Tennessee is absolutely committed to public education

I believe school choice is the future of learning.

Providing more options for students to get a quality education does not mean existing public schools will suffer either. The reality is that Tennessee's commitment to public education has never been more absolute.

I was proud to join my colleagues last year in support of the Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement Act. This landmark legislation prioritizes the individual needs of all students while also including an additional recurring state investment of $1 billion for K-12 funding.

We also continued to build on that progress this year with Tennessee's most significant single pay raise for teachers in state history. This puts us among the top states for teacher compensation in the nation.

Finally, but most importantly, the best way to support our schools and teachers is to send our students to school ready to learn.

Parents should be held accountable for student success

We hold our teachers and schools accountable for student outcomes, and it is time we put more accountability on parents for the outcome of their child's education. With freedom of choice comes greater responsibility and greater reward.

Every child needs someone to make them go to bed on time, do their homework, and limit their screen time. Children need someone who makes sure they have clean clothes and nutritious meals. They need guidance and stability; they need boundaries and consequences.

If a child’s needs aren’t met at home by someone who loves them, they’re much less likely to succeed in the classroom or later in life.

Ensuring every student has access to a world-class education remains a priority in Tennessee. That has not changed. School choice is simply another way we can best meet the educational needs of every child in our state and prepare them for a prosperous future.

Rep. Mark White, R-Memphis, represents District 83 in the Tennessee House of Representatives. He serves as chair of the House Education Administration Committee.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee lawmaker: Why school choice is the future of learning