National School Choice Week is about funding students, not systems | Opinion

The 113th Tennessee General Assembly has convened, and National School Choice Week kicked off on Jan. 22. Around the country and right here in Tennessee, there is good news on the school choice front. We have much work to do as our elected representatives gather for another legislative session and work on legislation that will affect students across the state. With two school choice programs – the Education Savings Account Program and the Individualized Education Program – up and running in Tennessee, more families than ever before are able to send their child to the school of their choice, and that is certainly something to celebrate.

Since the ESA program launched this fall, hundreds of students in Shelby and Davidson counties are taking part. Tennessee’s ESA program allows eligible families to take a portion of their tax dollars spent on their child’s education and use these funds on approved educational expenses, including sending them to the state-approved independent school of their choice. The IEA program serves students with disabilities, operates in much the same way, and is open to families in all 95 counties across the state.

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At the American Federation for Children – Tennessee, we are working to fund students, not systems. We have connected with many eligible families who are grateful for the ESA program, and have heard their thoughts and concerns. Families choose to participate for many different reasons – some parents want to send their child to a school with a specific academic focus provided by a private school, some prefer a parochial education for their child, and others simply feel trapped in a zoned school that does not work for them. But the bottom line is we believe parents should be driving these decisions.

The IEA program, available to families all across the state, is unique in serving students with disabilities. AFC–TN has met with families who send their child to a highly specialized school that serves students with Down syndrome, or programs to support students with dyslexia. Using these funds, families can find ways to ensure their child is getting the quality education they deserve and that serves their unique needs and abilities.

The Tennessee General Assembly this year will consider legislation to expand the ESA program into Hamilton County, which AFC–TN wholeheartedly supports. Senate Bill 12, filed by Sen. Todd Gardenhire of Chattanooga, would open doors for families in Hamilton County to pursue the best educational options for them. Putting more parents in charge of their child’s education and allowing more families to access a quality education for their children is something we want to celebrate this National School Choice Week.

Every child is different. Every child learns differently and has unique needs. No single system for educating children could ever hope to satisfy the needs of a diverse population like ours. That is why we celebrate all choice – magnet schools, public charter schools, private schools, the ESA program, the IEA program and zoned public schools. Parents, regardless of income, should have all of these options in front of them as they consider what kind of education they want for their child. But the bottom line is this: these decisions should be made at the kitchen table, by the people who know these kids best – their parents. That’s what we mean by students over systems, and what AFC–TN will continue to work toward in Tennessee.

John Patton is Tennessee state director for the American Federation for Children, where he leads AFC’s campaign to increase educational choice in multiple states across the country.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Opinion: National School Choice Week is about students, not systems