Giving Compass' Take:

• With more than 40 percent of the Puerto Rican population below the federal poverty line, ZIP codes trap families in failing schools. School choice ensures that all children have the opportunity to learn, and puts education in the hands of parents, instead of the state.

• How can we help and support other countries at climate change risk keep their educational systems intact?

• Learn more about how climate change is affecting our educational systems. 

Thirteen months ago on Sept. 20, 2017, Hurricane Maria slammed the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico, devastating homes and infrastructure and leading to loss of life across the island.

The storm greatly exacerbated the problems of a school system already in crisis: Puerto Rican fourth- and eighth-graders, for example, are roughly five grade levels behind their U.S. mainland peers in mathematics.

Out of the devastation wrought by Hurricane Maria came an opportunity to reform the ailing education system on the island.

Notably, the education reforms introduced by the territorial government and supported by Puerto Rico Secretary of Education Julia Keleher, along with Gov. Ricardo Rossello, include a pilot school-voucher option and the introduction of charter schools.

The introduction of education choice in Puerto Rico didn’t come without pushback from special-interest groups, however.

Read the full article about school choice in Puerto Rico by Jude Schwalbach at The Heritage Foundation