Graduate Crisis

The Turner Report says that public schools cannot turn around low graduation rates on their own, citing problems at Joplin public schools. By now, with statistics that over one million kids are dropping out, we have an obvious problem that can’t be ignored and isn’t going away. If we’ve ever turned away from this issue, or tucked it under a rug, that luxury is gone. It’s far too big to ignore and our schools need critical attention, and as the Turner Report notes, we have to do everything in our power to keep them in school.

Oh, except extending more choice to students. That would be going too far. The blog brings up the staggering problem, then immediately takes swings at the idea of school choice that many believe will offer some relief for the students who are in danger of failing.

It is not “ridiculous” to believe that offering more choices in education will help improve graduation, because it has already happened in other states that have passed legislation providing more educational options. And while there are many factors that keep children from succeeding, and they take a community effort, helping children get paired with the right education environment is one part of that effort.

I think that having a seamless support network that catches children before they slip through the cracks—or drop out—is a huge part of the solution. As a community, however, we have an obligation to make choices more plentiful for the next generation; help them be more likely to succeed. The current Missouri legislation aimed at giving more choices to special needs children is neither taxpayer funded nor detrimental to public schools, but it can give students with special needs the connection to a service that will help them learn.

Ignoring the potential benefit that school choice programs can have to combat the staggering dropout rate is painfully short-sighted. Deciding to forgo even the discussion that school-choice proponents are generating flies in the face of “doing everything we can to keep students in school.” I don’t think we can afford to not give it our all when so many children’s futures are at stake.