Our current political climate along with the U.S. Department of Education’s confirmation of Betsy Devos is at a crossroads that can lead to an adverse affect on our educational climate. Furthermore, achievement gaps among students from different ethnic groups, affluent, and low-income students is the greatest it has been. Therefore, it is critical the right decisions be made concerning the future of education within our borders. Are charter schools the answer? Is school choice the answer? Are school vouchers the answer, as proposed by Devos? Is deregulation of charter schools the answer? The debate of whether or not charter schools are helping students achieve will continue. However, according to statistics, there is no reliable data that shows charter schools are outperforming public schools. Therefore, we must examine the demographics in which charter schools service. Charter schools have been developed in places where the public schools system lack resources, endure overcrowding, exhibit a racial achievement gap, and confront policies that fail to deliver opportunities for minority students of color. However, the current administration wants to deregulate charter schools even more, as well as provide school vouchers for students of working class parents to take them to private schools. I think the deregulation of charters and the money spent on providing parents vouchers for their kids to attend private institution can be sided with better options. I think charter schools as well as private schools must adhere to the same accountability standards as public schools. Therefore, these schools would still use their freedom; however, standards such as teacher certification and IDEA would be mandated. Also, charter schools and private schools should be granted more resources to service students with disabilities. In conclusion, we must ask ourselves how to best fight for equitable education to close the achievement gap among our students.
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