Christie and Vouchers

Over the past few months, New Jersey Governor Christie has been in the national media spotlight because of his divisive remarks about gun control, his dissension within the ranks of the national Republican Party, and his non-invite to the 2013 CPAC colloquium. Unfortunately, his efforts on behalf of reforming public education in New Jersey have not gotten the press that they deserve.

In March 2013, he addressed serious questions about a proposed voucher program -- Opportunity Scholarship Act -- in Paterson. Contrary to media commentaries, which suggested that a heated, over-blown shouting match dominated the town hall meeting,  Christie laid out the principal principles for enacting a voucher program and permitting inner-city children to enroll in another school.

Most parents seek homes outside of the inner cities just to find a better school for their kids. Poor parents do not have that luxury. While one participant kept shouting “Fix our public schools!”, Governor Christie advanced the proper response. It’s not about more money, but more opportunity. Instead of forcing urban students to suffer in silence, waiting for their schools to improve, they should have the opportunity to go to another, better performing school.

Governor Christie was right to dismiss the hollow indictment that vouchers would “destroy public education”. Research from the Santa Monica based Rand Corporation has refuted the argument that more money will make better schools, whiles studies from Stanford University have confirmed that state-wide vouchers and school choice create a better educational environment for everyone, suburban or urban.