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 General Assembly approved the school choice program during a special session in January. —Kim Jarrett | The Center Square, The Washington Examiner, 11 Apr. 2025

Such proposals have been sought in the name of school choice, giving parents the option to enroll their children somewhere besides their local public school. —Lina Ruiz, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Apr. 2025

This educational failure is precisely why school choice has gained impressive momentum nationwide. —Steve Forbes, Forbes.com, 28 Mar. 2025

Department Undermines American Nationhood | Opinion How Universities Must Evolve To Survive Funding Cuts and AI | Opinion In Florida alone, 524,000 kids used school choice scholarships to get better educations in 2024. —Kevin Sabet, Newsweek, 24 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1988, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for school choice

• rejoice
• voice