June 27, 2002
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SUPREME COURT AFFIRMS PARENTS' RIGHT TO CHOOSE THE BEST EDUCATION FOR THEIR CHILDREN
The Supreme Court has once again recognized that when it comes to access to quality education, the Constitution leaves no child behind.
This time the message is clear: When the system fails a child, every parent deserves a choice, because every child deserves a good education.
This decision is about choosing the needs of students over the demands of the status quo. Cleveland's choice program began because of years of serious financial and bureaucratic problems in the city's public schools. The school choice program is a lifeline for nearly 4,000 students in Cleveland, giving them and their parents hope beyond a failing school.
States can now embrace a host of options and can allow freedom of choice to meet the needs of parents, neighborhoods, and school districts. School choice puts the needs of parents and children ahead of the system.
Ultimately, this is a victory for parents. It is a victory for trust in the people. The Supreme Court has upheld the notion that the government does not violate the Constitution when citizens, taxpayers, and parents are given the freedom to choose public, private, even religious institutions for help. This decision also supports President Bush's faith-based initiatives that allow citizens the freedom to choose religious institutions and faith-based groups to receive money for their non-sectarian efforts to end alcohol and drug abuse, to provide child-care and to reach out to the poor and downtrodden.
This is perhaps the most important education decision since Brown v. Board of Education. In 1954, our nation declared that we cannot have two education systems: one for blacks and one for whites. In 2002, we have declared that we cannot have two education systems: one for those who can afford to send their child to another school and another for those too poor to escape a failing school. No single legislative issue is more dependent on the Supreme Court's reading of the Constitution than this one. With this victory, states can proceed with the confidence that in two separate occasions (Cleveland and Milwaukee), the Court has recognized the right of states to empower parents and re-invigorate education.
Choice is an integral part of President Bush's plan to leave no child behind. As part of the provisions of the historic No Child Left Behind Act, parents of students trapped in failing schools will be able to send their children to another public school in their area and even take part of the federal funds from Title I to get their children tutoring, after school or weekend help, even summer school classes.
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