Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, a supporter of school choice, has suggested that rural school districts be “bracketed out” of any school choice program. While such a policy might win some support from rural legislators, “bracketing out” is unprincipled.
Patrick has said that school choice is a part of parental freedom, stating that “parents deserve the freedom to decide where their kids go to school.” However, “bracketing out” extends that freedom only to parents in urban and suburban communities. Apparently, Patrick doesn’t believe that rural parents should also be free to choose where their children go to school.
Last November, Patrick acknowledged that there are “some failing schools in rural Texas, but for the most part kids and families like their schools.” If kids and families generally like their schools, then school choice will not lead to an exodus from government schools in rural communities and it’s a moot point. And if it does lead to a significant number of students transferring to private schools, then that would make it clear that kids and families don’t like their schools.
In his 2023 inaugural speech, Patrick said,
To the naysayers that say school choice hurts rural Texas, the governor and I will have a plan to protect those schools financially and to make sure those parents have choice also where they are in a failing school.
But what of the student in a successful school who is not doing well? He, apparently, will be stuck with the government school. He will be denied an opportunity to move to a more appropriate school because his peers are doing well.
Patrick’s exclusions are motivated by political expediency, not principles. A principled policy would not make exceptions simply to secure political support. A principled policy would be to fight for school choice for all parents.
As the leader of the Texas Senate, Dan Patrick has a bully pulpit. He should use it to fight for school choice on principles because “bracketing out” is unprincipled.