Giving Compass' Take:

• Lane Wright at The 74 argues that improving school choice is possible, through creating better options, and more of them.  

• What do underserved communities in your area need most? How can we make sure that all families have equal access and knowledge of the opportunities available to them?

• Here are 10 reasons school choice is winning. 

Florida is considered a leader in school choice. Here in Tallahassee, we’ve got a half-dozen charter schools, magnet and International Baccalaureate programs, and an open-enrollment system that gives you the option of attending any traditional public school you’re not zoned for, as long as you can get there and there is space available. For the best schools, though, there typically isn’t.

It all boils down to one uncomfortable fact: Despite all the laws and programs in place to expand options for students and families, there really aren’t as many good choices as you might think.

But if you dig a little deeper, you realize that all the public charter schools serving mostly minorities and students in poverty are struggling just as much as the traditional public schools with the same sorts of kids. The magnet and IB programs seem to reinforce segregation between black and white, and between the rich and poor students within the same school.

It’s not OK that we have only a handful of high-performing schools in any given district, or that students from the south sides of this country are typically relegated to schools with the fewest resources, the least-effective teachers, and the lowest standards.

Read the full article on school choice by Lane Wright at The 74.