Like a canary in a coal mine, tests tell us when kids are in trouble, but offer no way out. Genuine accountability occurs when parents can demand school excellence or can send their children elsewhere. Tax cuts, educational savings accounts, tuition tax credits and scholarship credits put parents in the driver's seat. Last week, Harvard University released a study of parents whose children received scholarships to attend new schools. Roughly seven out of 10 parents were very satisfied with the academic quality, values and safety of their chosen school, whereas only two out of 10 public-school parents said the same.
Educational choice is the only way to ensure that no more children are left behind.
Darcy Ann Olsen is director of education and child policy at the Cato Institute.