(To view the full Policy Tip Sheet, click here)
Over the past decade and particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic, an increasing number of American families have become dissatisfied with government-run public schools and desire robust school choice options.
During the pandemic, most public schools, at the behest of teacher unions, decided to close their doors for in-person learning. Meanwhile, private and parochial schools generally remained open for in-person learning. The vast majority of public schools also mandated face masks for children as well as vaccines whereas private and parochial schools abstained from these heavy-handed tactics.
These issues have been accentuated now that data show that public school shutdowns created a series of harmful effects, both inside and outside the classroom. In fact, studies show that students who were not allowed to attend in-person classes during the pandemic are now suffering from lower academic attainment and various social and emotional problems.
In response to these issues, more American families are demanding universal school choice so that they have the ability to choose where and how their child is educated. Rather than being forced to attend government-run public schools based on their Zip code, more Americans than ever support school choice and education savings account programs.
To read the rest of this Policy Tip Sheet, click here.
Kendyl Turner is a fellow with the American Journey Experience: Freedom Rising Fellowship Program and a policy advisor for The Heartland Institute.
Chris Talgo is editorial director at The Heartland Institute and a research fellow for Heartland’s Socialism Research Center.
