Defending Educational Choice: The Role of Parents in Revitalizing Education

Leaders of several teachers unions have written an open letter urging Democratic governors to reject a new federal tax-credit scholarship program. They argue that it threatens public education. However, the letter misunderstands the law’s true purpose. It empowers parents to choose the best educational paths for their children, whether that involves private or public schools. This concept of parental choice should not be contentious.

For too long, educational debates have focused on institutions and systems rather than the needs of individual children. Parents making decisions are less concerned with these political frameworks. They focus on helping their child, such as a mother ensuring her son learns to read or a father finding a safer school environment for his daughter. Even public school parents seeking after-school tutoring aim to enhance their child’s reading skills, which can ultimately improve public education outcomes.

The core of this new law is not to favor private interests but to benefit children directly. Positive implications reach about 90% of all students, including those in public schools. This initiative ensures that children from various school backgrounds receive the support they need and that families meeting income requirements access necessary resources.

The organization I lead has witnessed the impact of empowering families for over 25 years. A scholarship might appear modest, but to a parent, it can mean providing essential needs for a child.

The letter from union leaders suggests that more options for families will harm public education. In contrast, supporting parental decisions doesn’t weaken public schools. It allows families to pursue what benefits their children most. Public education should embrace the idea that schools matter, but so do parents and their right to choose the optimal educational resources for their children.

Governors face a choice not between public and private schools but between supporting families or allowing donor money to escape their states. Families are crucial. Trusting parents with these choices is an acknowledgment of their vital role in children’s well-being, strengthening society overall.

Our organization aims to support all children, whether they attend public or private schools, and improve community outcomes through empowered parents. This approach is not privatization or abandonment but a show of faith in families.

Darla M. Romfo is President and CEO of the Children’s Scholarship Fund, providing scholarships for over 38,000 children in the 2025-26 school year.