school choice

noun

US : a program or policy in which students are given the choice to use public funds to attend a school other than their district's public school (as at a charter school, private school, home school, or at a public school in a different district)

Voucher plans were adopted largely as a last resort, an effort to guarantee a semblance of school choice for low-income minority students in failing inner-city schools.

—Jeffrey Rosen

To be sure, even their most enthusiastic defenders acknowledge that many public schools, especially in big cities are riven with serious problems. The debate over "school choice" and tax vouchers for private schools illustrates the widespread discontent with public schools.

—Dirk Johnson

Examples of school choice in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The opt-in option leaves the school choice movement with work to do. —Lexi Lonas Cochran, The Hill, 30 Jan. 2026

Notably, the American Federation for Children, a right wing group that advocates for school choice with close ties to former education secretary Betsy DeVos, has started its own SGO. —Peter Greene, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026

Ollendorff said the district’s school choice department now was awaiting a final financial audit from Legends Academy and the repayment of any public funds owed back to the district. —Steven Walker, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 Jan. 2026

But, as popular as school choice has been, the overall achievement levels in non-MPS schools aren’t much better than in MPS. —Alan J. Borsuk, jsonline.com, 16 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1988, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for school choice

• rejoice
• voice