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

Darrell Smith, assistant commissioner for school choice and parent empowerment, spoke about the rankings while presenting an update on Arkansas' Educational Freedom Accounts program to the state Board of Education. —Arkansas Online, 12 Sep. 2025

Families in more than a dozen states now enjoy universal-eligibility school choice, enabling them to access a portion of education funding to use toward their preferred educational setting. —Kerry McDonald, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025

Chicago still maintains a robust system of school choice, and the school-age population continues to shrink. —Mila Koumpilova, ProPublica, 9 Sep. 2025

While most of McMahon's stops reflected the administration's push for school choice and conservative values, McMahon was also due to stop at Renaissance High School, a part of the Detroit Public Schools Community District, in the afternoon. —Lily Altavena, Freep.com, 8 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1988, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for school choice

• rejoice
• voice