Milwaukee proves school choice can work

Because it seems so obvious, it's easy to overlook how revolutionary this cooperation is. The public education lobby has made it very clear how much disdain they hold for vouchers. Every year they hint that private schools will hurt or destroy the public education system. With so much animosity roiling just below the surface of Utah's debate, I could hardly believe the degree of cooperation I saw in Milwaukee.

Since returning, I've spent a lot of time thinking about Milwaukee's voucher program and why the relationship between public and private schools is so different there. I am confident that the teachers and administrators in Utah's public and private schools care just as much about their students as their counterparts in Milwaukee do. And I'm sure both groups are well trained. I'm also sure none of them believes they are getting enough money. The fundamental difference between Milwaukee and Utah is parental choice.

I am sponsoring the parental choice bill this next Legislature, because I want the cooperation and problem solving that's blessing the Milwaukee schools to do the same in Utah schools. I believe in the power of choice. I believe in the power of parents. I hope you'll join me in supporting parental choice.

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Rep. Stuart Adams is a Republican legislator from Layton.