Stories

The Power of School Choice:  What if the school your child was assigned to put their future at risk? My mother faced that decision and made a choice that changed my life forever.

Education is one of the powerful tools for shaping a child’s future. As a firm believer in school choice, I fully support parents having the ability to decide what school best meets their children’s needs. My conviction on this issue is deeply personal because over twenty years ago, my mother made a bold decision that altered my life.

Before school choice was a policy, my mother exercised it in her way. When I was preparing to enter high school, my assigned school was plagued with gangs, drugs, and low academic performance. In fact, in 2002, it was named the most dangerous high school in the city. However, like any teenager, I was angry when she moved me to another state for a better education. I didn’t understand why she was taking me away from my friends and the only environment I had known. But she saw the bigger picture.

Looking back, I now know her decision was the best for my life. She removed me from a failing school and placed me where I could thrive. That choice led me to graduate from college, build a successful career, run for State Representative in Iowa, and even meet the President of the United States. My story proves that parents know what’s best for their children. Long before school choice was a movement, my mother demonstrated its value. I fully support Iowa’s commitment to empowering parents to shape their children’s futures.