When Parents Do Know Best: Darla Romfo on the Viability of School Choice Programs

Even as many parents grow increasingly dissatisfied with their local public schools, finding another option for their children is not always easy – or affordable. Publicly-funded school choice programs aim to bridge this gap, but they have faced enormous political opposition. As the education system rebuilds itself post-pandemic, is there hope that school-choice programs will gain more traction?

In this episode, Naomi and Ian are joined by Darla Romfo, president and CEO of the Children’s Scholarship Fund, a nonprofit dedicated to providing scholarships for low-income students to attend private schools. Darla discusses the opportunities that have opened up around school choice in recent years, the rise of homeschooling and church-based schooling, and how Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) can serve as a vehicle to help more parents gain access to educational options. She also points out that though school choice programs face opposition from some corners, support remains high among parents, Republicans, and even the majority of Democrats.

Resources

• Home Schooling’s Rise from Fringe to Fastest-Growing Form of Education | The Washington Post
• Let Parents Choose Their Kids Schools | Darla Romfo
• Why We Must Eliminate Barriers to School Choice Nationwide | Ian Rowe
• The Death of Public School’ Review: Find a Place to Learn | Naomi Schaefer Riley

Show Notes

• 0:00:48 | What is the current climate around Educations Savings Accounts and what is the potential for growth?
• 0:06:56 | What is the rationale behind opposition to school choice programs?
• 0:08:27 | To what degree are finances a barrier for families considering homeschooling?
• 0:12:06 | What are the trends among Catholic schools with the rise of ESAs?
• 0:16:51 | How will states respond to the backlash against public school policies?
• 0:18:24 | How do organizations like CSF grow and how can listeners support school choice programs in their states?