Persuasive school-choice voice

Education's rise to prominence as a political issue over the last two decades inevitably has been accompanied by heated debate over how best to improve public schools. But a welcome consensus, across party lines, is developing in recognition that one indisputable means of making public education better is to give families more educational choices. Many who once were wary of school choice now embrace it, rightly persuaded by its proven, positive results.

Sixth District Rep. James E. Clyburn, majority whip of the U.S. House, hails such gratifying school-choice success at a charter school in Harlem, N.Y., on today's Commentary page. Praising S.C. Education Superintendent Jim Rex's determination to expand choice in our state, Rep. Clyburn writes: "I believe every parent should be given the right to choose a public school or program for their child that is the best environment for that student."

Rep. Clyburn and Dr. Rex have more in common than a strong belief in public-school choice. They're both Democrats.

Their party affiliation is significant in light of past resistance by many professional educators, a voting bloc that tends to support Democrats, to the general concept of school choice and its specific elements of charter and magnet schools.

That resistance is receding. Yes, political differences persist on school choice, in our state and across the nation. Gov. Mark Sanford vetoed a school-choice bill passed by the General Assembly, and strongly supported by Dr. Rex, earlier this year, citing its lack of private-school options. There remains substantial opposition, primarily from Democrats, to making private schools part of school-choice initiatives.

But a growing number of political leaders now appear eager to foster educational innovation and parental involvement by vastly broadening choices within the public-school system.

As all South Carolinians should, regardless of their parties or ideologies, they refuse to accept an educational status quo that for far too long has left far too many children in struggling schools that aren't meeting their — and our — needs.

Our state's economic future will be dismal without substantial progress by our public-education system. Providing more choices within that system should be a cause that draws widespread, bipartisan support.

As Rep. Clyburn convincingly writes: "We have the opportunity to be visionary in South Carolina on the issue of public-school choice."

With growing bipartisan backing for educational choice, we have the opportunity to make such a vision a reality.