On July 4th, the 250th anniversary of our nation, our democratic public schools are in trouble. At a time of celebration, educators and families from both parties might be wondering what’s happening to their public schools.
Here, I explore three serious issues (many others) confronting public education and some of the groups and individuals fighting to help save it.
Ed Choice isn’t freedom; it’s division and a lack of accountability!
Economist Milton Friedman advocated a free-market voucher system that would allow tax dollars to be used to choose among public, private, parochial, and charter schools. He convinced many Americans that public schools were a monopoly and that schools would thrive with competition. Vouchers would lift children from their lower socioeconomic status.
Choice is not real. Most parents are not able to afford wealthy private schools with a voucher. Nor is there assurance a child will be accepted. Students with disabilities are often rejected.
It has always been disproportionately harmful to students of color, while vouchers for wealthier parents offset the tuition they already pay to send their children to elite private schools.
Private schools lack accountability. Consider how easy it is to open a school in North Carolina, get $7,942 per student without a background check, and by those without necessary credentials.
Even the best private schools might not be better. In their book The Public School Advantage: Why Public Schools Outperform Private Schools, the Lubienskis found that when you control for selectivity, public schools do just as well or better than private schools.
Who’s fighting back?
When educational choice is on the ballot, it fails. Americans want great public schools!
Yet, despite this, last July, Congress added a tax-credit scholarship in the One, Big Beautiful Bill Act, under which taxpayers can claim tax credits in exchange for donations to organizations that grant private school scholarships and scholarships covering expenses like tutoring and after-school programs connected to public schools (Stone et al., 2026).
This is a shady program that lacks oversight and transparency.
Here are the Governors who remain against such anti-public education plans and their states have said no to tax-credit scholarships.
- Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek
- Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz
- Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers
The following governors are also opposed but their Republican controlled legislatures have voted for it.
- Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly
- Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear
- North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein
Other governors were against school vouchers, but their states have still signed in favor of the One, Big Beautiful Bill Act, or no decision has been made yet. Check on which states are signing up in Education Week’s Federal School Choice: Which States Are Opting In? (Ed. Week is behind a paywall so you may or may not be able to view this).
In addition, concerning educational choice already in place:
Parents, students, educators, school board members, and civil rights organizations have recently filed a lawsuit through the Florida Education Association against the Florida Department of Education for failing to uphold the Constitution. They want to ensure that every child in Florida has access to a “uniform, efficient, safe, secure, and high-quality system of free public schools.”
The Utah Education Association also filed a lawsuit against the state because their voucher program diverts $82.5 million in taxpayer money to private schools that are not free, not open to all, and not overseen by the Utah State Board of Education.
The Network for Public Education provides a report surrounding states that are supporting public schools and those that are not. Public Schooling in America: Our 2026 Report Card on the States.
And Arizona’s public school teachers are reigning in the school vouchers in that state.
An oligarchy takeover of public schools destroys democracy to push privatization.
Corporate school reformers and political lackeys took control of public schools, and the changes in public schools have been corporate-driven. Through legislation and corporate agendas funded by billionaires, there’s now less freedom when it comes to public schools.
It should not need to be said that billionaires taking over how America’s children learn is concerning. Certainly, if America’s wealthy want to give back, they could do so without demanding control of schools. They could help fund school libraries, teacher salaries, school buildings, school meals, and a myriad of other child supports.
Instead, corporate school reformers affect how schools work at the local, state, and federal levels. When public schools are underfunded, school board members (the democratic gatekeepers) welcome outside funding from various corporate CEOs with clout.
Who’s fighting back?
For years, Americans have recognized corporate influence on public schools. Americans across the country are fighting back and speaking out for their public schools!
True North Research: Defending Democracy provides information about dark money surrounding corporate behavior, holding to the following principles:
- that all people are created equal,
- that our Constitution is premised on the promise that our democracy will promote the general welfare of We the People, and
- that our nation should be a bright beacon for freedom, equality, and ingenuity in the world.
A great public school system demands a great U.S. Department of Education (U.S. ED).
The illegal closure of the U.S. ED by the Trump administration is already demonstrating the cost of such a drastic endeavor. The U.S. ED has ensured that states observe the protection of students through various laws surrounding civil right, with Title I and children with disabilities, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), and many more.
Education has always been primarily a function of the state. What the U.S. ED does is to ensure that the states continue to implement the rules surrounding the laws…laws to protect student rights.
Mostly, the closing of the department will let states push the choice agenda.
Who’s fighting back?
Senator Elizabeth Warren started a Save Our Schools Campaign describing real life stories, the news, etc. But it seems to have shut down in February.
The ACLU spoke out about the closure but it isn’t clear what they have done to stop it.
Watchdog groups like Protect Democracy are also pushing back on the consolidation of power and the end of child protections through the U.S. ED.
While those listed above have put up a fight for the U.S. ED the concern about the programs the real fight seems to surround the U.S. ED’s transfer of programs.
According to the United States Senate Committee on Appropriations:
U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee; Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations; and Bernie Sanders, Ranking Member on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, led the entire Senate Democratic Caucus in demanding the Trump administration put students first, follow the law, and immediately reverse course on transferring special education programs and civil rights enforcement out of the Department of Education (ED).
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We are on a dangerous path to destroying America’s democratic public school system, which has served the nation well, despite it being under attack. While this system is open to change, the ending and replacement of it will leave behind many children. It will dramatically change the face of a nation built on belief that all people are created equal.
While things seem dim about the future of public education, many groups and individuals are working to ensure that these schools are lifted, improved, and not destroyed. Please add groups or individuals who you know who are actively working to end school choice and save America’s democratic public schools.
Happy 4th of July! Stay safe!
References
Lubienski, C., & Lubienski, S. T. (2014). The public school advantage: why public schools outperform private schools. The University of Chicago Press.
Stone, M., et. al. (2026, June 12). Federal School Choice: Which States Are Opting In? Education Week. Retrieved at: https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/federal-school-choice-which-states-are-opting-in/2025/08
A Few 4th of July Posts from the Past
Religion’s Destructive Effect on Public Education this July 4th
Independence Day and the Loss of America’s Democratic Public Schools
3 Ways to Lose Democratic Public Schools: The Crisis on This 4th of July
Public Schools and Freedom: A New Threat as We Celebrate This 4th of July
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