With only 21 days remaining until Election Day, both presidential candidates have largely avoided discussing education and school choice.
“It’s an issue I wish we had addressed during the Trump administration,” said former Trump Education Secretary Besty DeVos. The issue, though, is still relevant at the gubernatorial, state house, state senate, and local school board levels.
In 2022, education was a winning ticket for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. Much of it had to do with COVID protocols and the learning deficit students face with school lockdowns. Also, there are some social issues like books and gender identity being proposed in some school districts to be taught to kindergarteners through 4th grade.
Are down-ballot Democrats still vulnerable on education policies? Yes, says Ruy Teixeira, a Senior Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute.
Teixeira says Democrats will never stop depoliticizing schools on an issue they dominated for years. “Their downfall was mishandling the Covid-related school closures, allowing culture wars in the classroom, and downplaying the importance of merit and academic achievement,” said Teixeira.
On culture wars, Teixeira says that, whether from the Left or Right, voters are sick of the culture wars around schools, such as critical race theory, gender identity, and topics involving a school’s curriculum. Teixeria says schools need to stop imposing their views on curricula and analysis of social issues. “The job of schools is to give students the tools to make informed judgments, not tell them what those judgments should be,” he said.
Democrats have been told to do away with the status quo on public education but instead continue to criticize school options parents may desire for their kids.
Florida Daily has reported that traditional public school enrollments in Florida have declined because parents are enrolling their children in charter schools, private schools, and homeschooling.
Charter schools throughout the state report backlogs for parents wanting to enroll their children.
“At times, it takes months or even a year or longer before a parent is approved to send their kids to our school because so many are trying to get in,” said Lindsey Hoyt, administrator for Jacksonville Classical Academy.
‘Democrats ignore parents’ interest in choice to their peril. Polling by Education Next shows support for choice options such as charter schools, universal vouchers, and vouchers for low-income families going up in recent years,’ said Teixeira.
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