The progressive case for school choice and a plea for post-election unity
In the wake of a sharply divided election, we make the case for education policy rooted in a family-centered, progressive vision, and uniting Chicagoans regardless of their mayoral candidate choice.
The progressive case for school choice
By Pastor
Progressives in Chicago have reason to celebrate as Brandon Johnson, a Cook County Commissioner, has been elected the next mayor of our city. Johnson's victory, which was supported by the Chicago Teachers Union and other progressive organizations, highlights the growing momentum for policies and reforms that promote social justice, equality, and inclusivity in our city.
But, everyone knows that this runoff election featured one issue above all others: crime. Close observers agree that on this all important issue, Mayor-elect Johnson accomplished something that has become a lost art – if not a forbidden practice – in modern politics: nuance.
Paul Vallas, a former CEO of Chicago Public Schools and Johnson’s now vanquished competitor, finished first in the February General Election by capitalizing on people's growing concerns about the surge in carjackings in areas that were previously less affected. He took a classic “tough on crime” approach, suggesting increases in the presence of police officers on the streets and giving officers more latitude in how they do their work.
On the other hand, Johnson, who had mentioned defunding the police as "a goal" in the past, clarified during the campaign that he did not intend to reduce police funding. Instead, he expressed support for adding 200 detectives to help solve crimes and allocating resources to social service programs that address the root causes of criminal activity. That’s the kind of message that many voters wanted to hear. As Geoff Garin, a Democratic strategist and pollster put it, “The narrative coming out of the first election was that voters were scared out of their wits. Now the story is that while voters are scared, they aren’t out of their wits.”
While crime dominated the public discussion in the runoff election, there is another issue that I’m hoping that we can see a similar movement toward nuance. I’m praying for the embrace of the idea that a truly progressive vision for Chicago does not have to exclude school choice. In fact, a comprehensive and inclusive progressive agenda demands that we embrace school choice as a means of empowering families and communities, and as a way to ensure that every child has the opportunity to access the education that best meets their unique needs and aspirations.
I have dedicated my life to serving and uplifting our community. My journey began in community organizing, where I first crossed paths with Chicago’s next mayor, Brandon Johnson. Together, we worked on projects aimed at creating positive change and empowering the people of Chicago. Our shared passion for justice and helping people has led both of us to where we are today: Johnson as the newly-elected mayor, and myself continuing to lead a vibrant and compassionate community in our city.
Growing up in the Austin neighborhood, where Johnson currently lives, I have witnessed firsthand the challenges and disparities that many families in our community face. Like Johnson, I am a supporter of many progressive political objectives, working toward a more equitable and just society. Our shared experiences and deep-rooted connection to the community form the foundation of our work, as we advocate for policies and programs that can create lasting, positive change in the lives of those we serve.
While our paths have led us to different roles within the community, we remain united in our desire to see Chicago thrive. It is with this shared history and commitment to progress that I believe we must expand our vision for Chicago to include school choice, recognizing that it is not only compatible with progressive values but also an essential component in creating a more inclusive and equitable education system for all.
I believe in the power of community to uplift and empower those who have been historically marginalized. From my days as a young community organizer on the Westside to my work as the lead pastor at Chicago Embassy Church Network, I have seen firsthand the transformative impact of collective struggle on the lives of countless individuals in our city. I come from community organizing and I know that school choice is controversial within progressive circles; but I also believe that we can find new paths forward.
At its core, school choice is about empowering parents, particularly those in disadvantaged communities, with the ability to decide what educational environment is best for their children. By supporting a range of options – from public schools, to charter schools, private school voucher and tax credit programs, and homeschooling – we are promoting a progressive vision that acknowledges the uniqueness of each child and their family's needs.
There is a wealth of data showing that communities of color, especially those with limited resources, stand to benefit the most from school choice options. According to a 2020 report from the National Center for Education Statistics, 33 percent of African American students and 29 percent of Hispanic students attended charter schools in the United States, compared to 24 percent of white students. These schools, often located in underserved communities, provide an alternative to traditional public schools that may be underperforming or struggling with issues such as overcrowding or limited resources.
Moreover, a study published in the journal Education Next found that private school choice programs, which include vouchers, tax credits, and education savings accounts, have a positive impact on the educational outcomes of students of color. The study showed that, on average, participating students experienced a 10 percent increase in college enrollment and a 17 percent increase in college graduation rates.
While opponents of school choice argue that these programs drain resources from public schools, it is important to recognize that the current public education system is not working for everyone. Just like we must find ways to support and advance policing while holding cops accountable if they do transgress professional and moral standards, we must consider the educational needs of those who have been left behind without disparaging the educators who labor day-in and day-out to provide the highest standard of education they can given the resources they have and the environments in which they work. This is the way that we will move toward creating a more equitable and inclusive education system that truly serves all children.
As we discuss school choice in the coming years, we should remember the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who once said, "The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education." The cultivation of character is part and parcel of education. That means that the values we promote and the values we discourage in schools, while controversial, must be publicly considered. And there will not always be agreement. By providing parents with the resources and opportunities to choose the best educational path for their children, we heed Dr. King's words and move towards a more just and equitable society.
So, how do we support school choice while ensuring that we do not undermine the public education system? We must advocate for policies that provide adequate funding for all schools, including traditional public schools and charter schools. We must work to ensure that Illinois’ existing tax credit program is protected and expanded to ensure that families of all income levels have an opportunity to pursue private education if that is their choice; we must not exclude those in need. And we must be open to supporting homeschooling families like my wife Aziza and me, who have chosen this path out of a deep commitment to our children's education and well-being.
Progressives have long championed the idea of empowering communities and individuals to make choices that best serve their needs. School choice is no exception. By supporting a range of school options and ensuring that all children have access to a high-quality education, we are promoting a progressive vision that values the unique needs and potential of every child. We must come together to create a future where education is truly the great equalizer, bridging divides and empowering the next generation to thrive in a diverse and ever-changing world.
Chicago embraced Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson on the basis of his progressive vision and nuanced position on crime. Let us embrace this opportunity to create a more inclusive and equitable education system by finding a similarly nuanced approach to school choice. Through this approach, we can empower families of all backgrounds and uplift historically marginalized communities. By providing parents with the resources and options they need to make informed decisions, we are fostering an environment where each child has the opportunity to flourish and reach their full potential.
It will take open and honest conversations with stakeholders from all perspectives, and a willingness to challenge our assumptions and learn from one another. But by doing so, we can create a more vibrant and dynamic educational landscape that serves the needs of all children and contributes to a brighter future for our city and model for the nation.
The Round Up
Here are the stories that caught our eyes this week and what they mean for the weeks ahead.
How Brandon Johnson made up ground and won Chicago’s mayoral race
In the last days of Chicago’s mayoralal campaign season, Brandon Johnson held a rally featuring Bernie Sanders with 4,000 enthusiastic supporters.
Johnson crisscrossed the South and West Sides, stopping at six churches in one Sunday. His volunteers knocked on a whopping 46,000 doors on Election Day alone.
The coalition that Johnson needed — young people, Black voters on the South and West Sides, a sizable number of Latino voters, white progressives on the North Side and along the lakefront — came to his side.
Johnson, virtually unknown to most Chicagoans just a few months back, defeated his more conservative rival, Paul Vallas, who came into the runoff with more support.
Neighbors and local elected officials protested outside the planned Englewood Save A Lot Wednesday, pledging not to leave until plans to open the store are scrapped.
Alds. Stephanie Coleman, Raymond Lopez and Jeanette Taylor, joined neighbors outside the store, slated to replace the Whole Foods Market that closed last year.
Yellow Banana, which owns and operates stores under the Save A Lot name, signed a lease for the vacant building in December. Englewood neighbors blasted the move, which they say ignores community’s opposition.
Six ward races still up in the air as younger, more diverse City Council takes shape
A day after the polls closed, six of Chicago’s 14 City Council runoff races were still too close to call.
In at least three of those close races, a candidate has declared victory, but no one has conceded defeat. Thousands of outstanding mail ballots remain to be counted over the next two weeks.
Regardless of the eventual winners, Chicago will definitely have a younger and more diverse Council next month, with a record number of Latino members elected.
Newsclips
Brandon Johnson, mayor-elect of Chicago, on winning the election and tackling crime
Brandon Johnson will be the first West Side mayor in 90 years, giving locals hope
75 years after its founding, WGN still serves the city as ‘Chicago’s Very Own’ TV station
'ComEd Four' trial showcases ease of evading bureaucratic checks against corruption
Chicago’s getting 13 new alderpeople. Meet your next City Council
Federal judge finds City of Chicago liable, violated Americans with Disabilities Act
Federal agency to raze three-story building on State Street
After a bruising election season, it’s time for Chicagoans to come together
By
This Wednesday, Chicagoans awoke to a new mayor-elect, Brandon Johnson, who scored an upset win against Paul Vallas. Vallas came into the race with a bigger slice of the first-round electorate, but Johnson ultimately prevailed.
Photo credit: Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere of the Chicago Sun-Times
As an Axios report makes clear, several factors led to Johnson’s victory. Millennials and Gen Z turned out in larger numbers than in February. Johnson had large margins of victory in the South and West Sides, areas that went for outgoing mayor Lori Lightfoot and Willie Wilson in the first round of voting. Johnson also won big in districts where key black alderpersons had backed Vallas, endorsements that voters seemed to have ignored.
Whatever the ultimate outcome, Johnson’s victory was quite close. He ultimately won with around 51 percent of the votes to Vallas’ 49 percent.
This tight margin should mean the new mayor-elect will need to do some unity-building efforts now that he is mayor of the whole city, including nearly half the electorate who chose to back his defeated rival.
It seems as if Vallas himself would like to see that unity. When his election night crowd greeted his announcement of Johnson’s victory with boos, Vallas asked his supporters to stop.
“It’s clear based on the results tonight that the city is deeply divided,” Vallas said.
Johnson likewise struck a conciliatory note in his victory speech.
“I care about you,” Johnson said of Vallas voters. “I value you. And I want to hear from you. I want to work with you. I will be the mayor for you, too.”
After an election season that was anything but unifying, the fact that the two men engaged in that election want to bring the city together should signal to all their supporters that the time for division is over, and the time for togetherness is here.
Mayor-elect Johnson calls unifying the city his top priority. We at The Civic Update applaud this goal and stand ready to help in any way we can.
In the coming weeks, we will have more to say about how to do this. In the meantime, revisit our past columns for ways we think the church in Chicago can best move forward.
Let’s move forward together, Chicago. We’re better united.
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