In Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Albany, New York, school choice has improved student achievement across the board. And in Texas, holding local authorities accountable has turned the state's failed education system around. When Governor Bush took office, there were 48 separate state educational goals - so many goals that resources couldn't be focussed on what's important. And parents couldn't really keep track of what was happening. Parents might learn that a school reached 40 goals - which sounds wonderful until you realize that one of the goals they didn't reach was teaching students to read.
Education is about results.
Effective reform also requires accountability. When a school succeeds, someone deserves credit and praise. And when a school fails, someone must be responsible. Parents refused to accept failure. Governor Bush's reforms made a difference.