01.15.16 by msedblog WJTV: Bryant proposes letting parents choose school, despite district lines By Beth Alexander Jackson, Miss. — Governor Phil Bryant says students shouldn’t be locked into failing schools or school districts but others say the idea could cause competition among schools that would distract from learning. During his inaugural address Tuesday, Governor Byrant said, “There are rights in our society and there are privileges. For example, it should be a parent’s right, not just a privilege by income or social status, to take his or her hard earned tax dollars and send their child to a school they choose.” He advocated for school choice and said we should “not stand in the schoolhouse doorway.” It’s an idea that local leaders already oppose. According to Jackson Ward 4 City Councilman De’Keither Stamps, “Principals shouldn’t be competing. Teachers shouldn’t be competing they should be teaching and that’s what we’ve got to get the governor to understand.” Stamps believes school choice would hurt Jackson Public Schools. We asked JPS Superintendent Dr. Cedric Gray about the issue. Gray says, “We have school choice. We have award winning APAC program, international baccalaureate program, and Montessori program. Along with the myriad of innovative approaches, we have at our district.” On Thursday, Governor Bryant said we can expect to see legislation regarding school choice this session, “You’ll see legislation first for charter schools to cross over district lines. That’s a choice that parents will be able to have particularly in failing school districts to have more opportunity for those charter schools. But also allow a child who is at a failing school district, for example, to be able to go to a better school district and cross those district lines.” Governor Byrant also added that, if a law passed giving parents school choice, the student would first have to be accepted by the school. Share this:EmailPrintFacebookLinkedInRedditTwitterGoogleTumblrPinterestPocket
