My friends are not in Bozeman by accident. As they contemplated relocation, a key consideration was the quality of their children’s public schools. By any objective measure, ours are excellent.

SAT scores at Bozeman High are well above the national average. Each year it produces a number of National Merit Scholars and sends several graduates to top-flight colleges. By moving to Bozeman my middle-class friends chose a top-notch public school system for their children.

In contrast, many low-income minority families in urban areas aren’t so fortunate. Unable to afford a home in the suburbs with better schools, their children are trapped in poorly performing inner city schools. I find this unacceptable.

America has a compelling interest in a well-educated citizenry. Along with good character (e.g., a strong work ethic and honesty), a quality education is required for individual progress in today’s economy. But improving urban public schools requires creativity and innovation.

Yet, the public educational system in Washington, DC is disastrous. The District’s schools are described by Mayor Anthony Williams as a “slow moving train wreck.” Despite a student-teacher ratio of 15 to 1, and a per-pupil expenditure of $13,993 in 2002 (that year Montana spent $7,130), students continue to fall behind. The standard fixes (e.g., smaller classes, intense reading instruction, improved facilities, increased teacher pay) have all been tried. And all fail.

On standardized achievement tests DC’s students score at or near the bottom in almost every category. According to national assessments less than 10 percent of the District’s 8th grade students are proficient in reading, math, and science. More than half lack even basic knowledge of these subjects. Only special interests would argue against fundamental change.

Parents determined to get a better education for their children formed DC Parents for School Choice. Lead by Virginia Walden-Ford, a single mom of three school-aged boys, they spent eight years lobbying and fighting to get Congress to provide tuition vouchers for the District’s children.

Their effort finally paid off. Earlier this year Congress passed a $14 million vouchers bill, the "DC Choice Incentive Program." This five-year, federally funded program provides tuition vouchers of up to $7,500 to almost 2,000 low-income students. Because demand is so high, recipients are chosen by lottery. Parents use the vouchers to send their children to the school of their choice, private, parochial, or other. Similar programs exist in Florida, Ohio, Wisconsin, and Colorado.

Walden-Ford understands that giving parents choice over their children’s schooling will help improve the performance of all public schools. How? Because schools will have an incentive to hold on to their students. To do that, they must be responsive both to the needs of kids and the expectations of parents. Can you find a flaw in this logic?

It’s depressing to hear the savage opposition, from teachers unions and the politicians beholden to them. Most disgusting are the Senators and members of Congress who oppose vouchers, but wouldn’t consider sending their children to the DC public schools.

“Hypocrite” is too kind a word to describe those who use the power of government to keep poor minority children in failing schools while sending their own to private ones. Virginia Walden-Ford nailed it:

“When segregationist politicians blocked schoolhouse doors...years ago, their decision to rob poor children of a quality education was a cruel act of racism. Today, some...Capitol Hill lawmakers and union officials are blocking schoolhouse doors once again.”

Do self-styled “progressives” like Senator Ted Kennedy, really believe that the poor cannot be trusted to make choices for their children? Isn’t this an example of a plantation mentality?

Supporters of choice believe in innovation and experimentation—a diversity of approaches. Ironically, they are labeled as conservatives.

Opponents of choice who defend the status quo are captives of special interests. They warn that even small changes to a system built in the nineteenth century will bring ruin. How can they call themselves liberals or progressives?

Before this November’s elections be sure to ask politicians of all stripes where they stand on one of our nation’s last great civil rights battles. I hope the ones you support are on the right side of history.