Thinking About School Choice: My Observations From Nearly 20 Years in Education
Thinking About School Choice: My Observations From Nearly 20 Years in Education
Recently, I’ve been thinking a lot about school choice, how families decide between public, charter, private, or homeschool options. These conversations feel louder than ever in our current climate, but the truth is, these shifts have been happening in public education for a long time; the difference now is how visible and urgent they feel. Public schools are fighting for their futures with more scrutiny and media attention than ever before.
I’ve spent nearly 20 years working in education, as a classroom teacher, tutor, instructional coach, and district-level leader across multiple states and school systems. I’ve worked directly in classrooms, supported teachers as a coach, and led professional development sessions for hundreds of educators. All this gives me a broad view of how schools operate and how similar challenges and conversations sound across the country.
When I first started teaching, I was passionate and ready to change the world. I wanted to create better pathways for students who, like me, had felt underprepared in public schools. College was my first real academic challenge, and it taught me how much preparation matters. That experience fueled my early mission to be the kind of teacher who could make a difference.
Over time, I noticed something: many colleagues expressed doubt about what students could achieve. Phrases like “my kids can’t do that” or “these students aren’t ready” were common. Even at charter schools with passionate teachers, the system itself sometimes reinforced punitive structures, like silent lunches, that felt unnecessary and restrictive.
I want to be clear: the majority of teachers I’ve worked with are amazing, passionate professionals who care deeply about their students. My critiques are about the system, not individual teachers. Yes, some educators need to adjust their mindset if they hold deficit beliefs about students, but far more often, teachers and administrators are simply overworked, under-resourced, and exhausted.
At the district level, I’ve seen classrooms that are chaotic and unsafe, where real learning is minimal. I’ve also seen classrooms where students are free to wonder, create, and learn, thriving in welcoming, calm, and motivating environments. This discrepancy exists not just within districts, but across the country. Even in the same neighborhoods, schools can offer very different experiences.
The Numbers
Around 76% of U.S. students attend traditional district public schools.
About 4 million (8%) attend public charter schools.
About 5.5 million (10%) attend private schools.
Roughly 3.1 million (5–6%) are homeschooled. Homeschooling surged during the pandemic and has remained steady since (U.S. Census Household Pulse Survey).
Students who are Black, Latinx/e, or from lower-income households are more likely to attend high-poverty schools and schools with fewer resources.
Schools serving mostly Black and Latinx/e students receive about $2,000 less per student per year than majority-White schools (EdBuild, 2019).
These statistics highlight patterns, but they don’t tell the full story. Behind every number is a family making choices, and that’s what I want to learn more about. I believe we have a lot of assumptions about why people make the choices they do, and we often hear from leaders about the choices we should make. It can honestly be overwhelming. I want to hear firsthand from families, students, and education leaders about the choices they make, and why.
I Want to Hear From Families
How do families make these decisions? What factors matter most when choosing a school? Safety, academics, extracurriculars, proximity, community, or something else? Are there options you couldn’t access, and why? What has worked well, or not, or your child?
I’m talking to families, educators, and policymakers to explore these questions, and your voice is essential.
If you’re willing to share your perspective, please reach out via email at learn@inksanityedu.com. Together, we can start a deeper and more meaningful conversation about school choice.
I Want to Hear From You
I want to hear from families first and foremost: How do you make decisions about your child’s schooling, be it public, charter, private, or homeschool? What factors matter most to your family: safety, academics, extracurriculars, community, values, or something else? Are there options you couldn’t access, and why? What has worked well,or not, for your child?
I’m also interested in perspectives from students, educators, administrators, and policymakers. Your experiences will help paint a fuller picture of how school choices are made and what matters most to different people in the education ecosystem.
If you’re willing to share your perspective, please reach out here learn@inksanityedu.com or through the contact form on the website inksanityedu.com.
