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Let’s keep an eye on Arizona, which recently passed one of the most expansive school choice programs in our nation. This is going to be EXCITING to watch.

Arizona’s new law provides just over $6,000 per student for education expenses. The money follows the student, so parents are able to use those funds to enroll their children in whatever public, private, or charter they choose. Funds can even be used for home schooling expenses and certain technology expenses related to education.

Let me tell you what’s going to happen over the next 12 months…

There will be COUNTLESS news stories grasping at straws to paint Arizona’s school choice in a negative light. For example, if some students aren’t able to enroll in the school of their choice due to capacity issues, that’ll be a headline. If there are students who move schools but aren’t happy, that’ll be a headline. If there are minor transportation issues, or payment delays, or so much as one missing school lunch anywhere, those will be headlines.

This is how the liberal media works. This is what they do. There will be a relentless effort – especially in Arizona – to create a narrative that this program is a failure, that school choice is evil, that parents are wrong for wanting to send their kids to the most suitable school for them, and how awful it is for teachers and schools to have to compete for students. It’ll be a constant dribble of nonsense.

But here’s the reality: K-12 education is about to get a LOT stronger in Arizona.

With this new program, Arizona parents will seek the best option for their children because they now can afford to do so. Schools of all types – private, public, and charter – will naturally work towards a continuous state of improvement to attract & retain pupils. In that process, teachers will be incentivized to remain at the top of their game. And students will be expected to rise to their individual best or perhaps go elsewhere.

This is what competition does. It is to be embraced, not feared.

Yes, there will be some hiccups implementing this program, but in a year or two, we’re going to see higher test scores, and better education outcomes for students in Arizona precisely because of this new program, and despite all the efforts for liberals to derail school choice.