CAPITAL REGION (WRGB) — One education expert thinks a recent high-profile Supreme Court decision could be an opportunity to give families of all backgrounds a chance to have their kids get a better education.
The Supreme Court decision late last month left many with questions over the future of higher education. Without race-conscious admission policies, some wonder if the playing field will become more uneven for those from historically underserved communities.
One expert says the conversation should turn to options for families, and it should start before college.
Emily D'Vertola is an education policy analyst with the Empire Center for Public Policy. She says the issue of allowing everyone access to a great education should be looked at starting at kindergarten, and it puts the spotlight back on the issue of school choice in New York State.
D'Vertola says our current system creates a dynamic of "haves and have nots" starting as soon as kids are old enough to go to school. Families who can afford to live in great districts do so, or they pay private school tuition.
But what if you don't live in a great district? Those families are stuck, and other states are recognizing this issue:
Pennsylvania, for example, is working on two school choice programs, one specifically targeting students who are in low performing districts that come from families below a certain income threshold that will allow them to use their education dollars to access one of those great schools far before they get to college, as well as a voucher program for students with special needs, D'Vertola tells CBS 6.
D'Vertola says in New York, if families with special needs students don't feel like their child's needs are being met, their only option is to pay out of pocket for private school tuition.
New York State does have charter schools, but there's a cap on how many there can be.
The latest EdChoice/Morning Consult poll shows 71% of school parents support a school voucher system that would allow parents to send their child to the school of their choice.
Crisis in the Classroom is a weekly segment in which CBS 6 investigates issues faced by educators, students, and families. Send any tips to our team by emailing or by calling (518) 288-6034.