school choice

noun

US : a program or policy in which students are given the choice to use public funds to attend a school other than their district's public school (as at a charter school, private school, home school, or at a public school in a different district)

Voucher plans were adopted largely as a last resort, an effort to guarantee a semblance of school choice for low-income minority students in failing inner-city schools.

—Jeffrey Rosen

To be sure, even their most enthusiastic defenders acknowledge that many public schools, especially in big cities are riven with serious problems. The debate over "school choice" and tax vouchers for private schools illustrates the widespread discontent with public schools.

—Dirk Johnson

Examples of school choice in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Ta supports school choice, wants to see California continue to streamline housing regulations so more housing can get built and will be a reliable vote against tax increases. —The Editorial Board, Orange County Register, 31 Oct. 2024

Since the pandemic, several states have passed school choice laws that allow parents to use public funding to pay for alternative schools through vouchers or educational scholarships, according to a national tracker from EdChoice, a nonprofit organization that advocates for school choice. —Kayla Jimenez, USA TODAY, 31 Oct. 2024

According to state campaign data, the two super PACs that support school choice and charter schools—Illinois Network of Charter Schools’ Action Independent Committee and Urban Center’s group—have spent nearly $1.6 million in the race so far this year. —Ikram Mohamed, Chicago Tribune, 29 Oct. 2024

Goodwin is running on school choice and parental rights. —Mike D'onofrio, Axios, 1 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1988, in the meaning defined above