A recent poll of black, single moms in New York City with school-aged children found that nearly 90 percent “don’t believe the traditional approach to public school meets students’ needs,” reports The 74. More than half (56 percent) have considered changing schools in the last year.
The survey, commissioned by a New York nonprofit organization that supports black, single mothers, also found that 6 in 10 respondents “strongly agreed that they were more likely to vote for a candidate who supported giving parents more choices in where their kids can go to school.” Nearly 70 percent of those surveyed believe the country is headed in the wrong direction.
But not only is this constituency wanting and seeking more education options, they are also building them, shares Kerry McDonald with the Foundation for Economic Education (FEE).
One example is Shari Robinson, an engineer near Richmond, Virginia who pulled her children out of public school years ago for homeschooling when the schools weren’t meeting her children’s needs. She later launched a drop-off homeschool resource center that offers regular classes and community for local homeschoolers, as well as Pierian Spring Academy of Arts & Sciences, a recognized private school for families who are interested in homeschooling but want or need a bit more structure.
The way education entrepreneurs are reimagining K-12 education is transforming it from the bottom up — from microschools to self-directed learning centers for homeschoolers, families are accessing a variety of educational models all with diverse philosophies and are being empowered to be the driving force of where and how their children learn. Parents want different learning options, and state leaders should take heed.
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Check out American Experiment’s latest podcast on how Kendall and Sheila Qualls with TakeCharge are advancing school choice and responding to the demand for it in underserved communities.