Before I became deeply involved in school choice, I spent years in public education as both a teacher and a principal. I worked with families who cared deeply about their children’s futures. Families who showed up, supported learning at home, and wanted the very best for their kids.
But too often, those same families were limited by one thing they couldn’t control: their ZIP code.
Instead of choosing the school that best fit their child, they were assigned one. And while many schools are doing good work, too many families are left navigating a system that settles for “good enough” instead of striving to be great.
That’s where my perspective began to shift.
Today, as a Catholic school principal, I see the other side of the equation. I see what happens when families are given a choice and just as importantly, when they’re not.
I’ve had conversations with parents who wanted something different for their child, an environment where expectations are high, where students are known, and where their child could truly thrive. But they simply couldn’t afford it. At the same time, I’ve seen what happens when students are placed in the right environment. They grow. They engage. They succeed.
That contrast makes one thing clear: access matters.
School choice is not about one type of school over another. It’s about giving families the ability to find the right fit for their child. Whether that’s a public, charter, private, or faith-based school.
And when families have that freedom, something powerful happens. Students gain confidence. Engagement increases. Outcomes improve.
But just as importantly, schools respond.
When families have options, every school public or private is challenged to be better. To innovate. To listen. To improve. School choice doesn’t weaken education systems; it strengthens them by raising expectations across the board.
All schools should be a choice. And all schools should strive to be the best choice.
Because without that pressure, without that opportunity, too many students are left in environments that don’t meet their needs. And the gap between what they need and what they receive continues to grow.
This isn’t about systems. It’s about children. It’s about ensuring that every family, regardless of income or background, has access to an education that helps their child reach their full potential.
I encourage policymakers, educators, community leaders, and all who care about the success of our youth in America to think differently about the future of education. Let’s move beyond “good enough.” Let’s build a system where excellence is the expectation, not the exception.
When we give families the power to choose, we give students the opportunity to succeed and we push every school to rise to the level our children deserve.
