Parent demand for K-12 school choice remains high in post-COVID America, but many states make the process too complicated, and bureaucracy is a barrier, a new survey says.
More than 60% of parents in the U.S. considered sending at least one of their children to a different school last year, according to a national survey by the National School Choice Awareness Foundation, or NSCAF.
Parents of elementary- and middle-school-aged children were most likely to indicate they searched for new schools, at 66% and 69%, respectively, compared to 57% of high school parents.
Black parents were most likely to say they considered different learning options, at 68%, compared with their Hispanic (63%), Asian (59%), and white (58%) peers.
Additionally, 84% of parents in military families considered new schools.
Although interest in public-sector education remained strong, those exploring new schools appeared less likely to consider public schools in their neighborhoods than they were in previous years. Instead, they were more likely to consider private schools, homeschooling, and micro-schools.
NSCAF’s National School Choice Week will take place from Jan. 26 to Feb. 1. The annual event aims to inform parents about K-12 education options available, including traditional public, public charter, public magnet, online, private, and homeschooling.
The non-profit does not get involved in legislation; its role is to create awareness and help parents navigate what can be a complicated process. The organization’s website contains state-specific information.
NSCAF’s President and CEO, Andrew Campanella, told The Center Square it chose to hold the event in January because it’s the best time to start the process for the next school year. The more time families have, the more likely they are to complete it, he said.
An early start gives parents time to explore their options and creates a feedback loop for schools. Those that see strong demand can increase staff, expand seat availability, and plan funding.
Campanella said the pandemic was the biggest disruption to K-12 education in modern U.S. history. While families were incredibly grateful for teachers’ work, some wanted other options.
In response, 25 states increased school choice options by either expanding eligibility for existing programs or creating new ones.
There are more options than ever available in both the public and private sectors, but parents face bureaucratic barriers that, in many cases, prevent them from making a change, said Campanella. Those barriers exist at the state level and through well-meaning but overly bureaucratic program administrators in some places.
Pennsylvania has more choices than many states, he said, but more can be done – noting bipartisan support for the Educational Income Tax Credit Program and Lifeline Scholarships, and its growing vibrant public charter school community.
However, unlike other states, the commonwealth lacks flexible open enrollment policies, and virtual schools face potential funding cuts.
Campanella explained that by making it easier for families to switch, states could boost funding for traditional public schools. This funding is tied to enrollment and would increase as more students enter the system.
“The bottom line,” he said, “is we need to address school choice the way parents look at it. They don’t care as much about the type; they care about the affordability and if it’s effective in meeting their child’s needs.”
The group says schools in every state with educational choice improve when required to be more responsive to the demands and concerns of parents.
Sixty-six percent of parents in cities and metropolitan areas considered new schools, compared to those in suburban and rural areas – 59% and 57%, respectively.
As school choice evolves, Campanella said transportation is a barrier that needs discussion.
“Some states do it well and others are ignoring it – ignoring it is not the solution,” he said.
Ultimately, 28% of parents who considered new schools enrolled their children in different schools. Of those, 60% selected public-sector schools, 10% selected full time online schools (a mix of public and private), and 30% chose either private schools, homeschooling, or micro-schooling.
