Commentary
Yes, it’s summertime. But many parents are already wondering how they’ll find the best school for their children to attend in September. Most students attend their local government public school. Some are enrolled in independent schools while still others are educated at home. Students in Alberta also have the option of attending a few public charter schools.
In short, parents have schooling options to consider, although the number of options depends largely on where they live. Parents in Alberta and British Columbia, for example, have considerably more choice than parents in Atlantic Canada.
The simplest way to expand school choice is to let the money follow the student to the school their parents choose—whether public, independent, or charter. This puts parents in the driver’s seat since they can choose the school that works best for their children. It’s a much better approach than forcing some parents to pay twice for their children’s education—once through their taxes and again through tuition fees when they choose independent schools that fit their children’s unique needs….