While the idea that teachers need to fear school choice pervades the press, nothing could be further from the truth.
Indeed, school choice will set teachers free.
The benefits of school choice to children – both to those who choose to attend an alternate school and those who are happy where they are – have been researched and well-documented. In public schools faced with competition, students demonstrate increases in test scores, graduation rates, and expected future earnings.
However, students are not the only ones who benefit from school choice. Research shows teachers benefit as well.
In fact, school choice will revolutionize – and professionalize – careers for educators.
Public education is a monopoly, for both those seeking an education (students) and those called to provide it (teachers). Compulsory attendance results in 90 percent of Texas children being educated by public schools, while teachers have no real choice for employment.
Someone passionate about teaching must either agree to a standard contract and salary schedule, or find another profession. The only way to get a raise is to move or attain another degree. A lack of competing employers within communities ensures teacher wages are artificially compressed.
Under school choice – whether through vouchers, charter schools, or public school transfers – no school would be guaranteed a captive group of students or teachers.
Real-world economic experience demonstrates that schools facing competition will place an emphasis on improving education quality in order to attract students. As such, the most successful schools will be those that hire and retain the best teachers. School choice generates competition for excellent teachers, who can in turn command better salaries and working conditions.
School choice will allow teachers to choose the teaching environment that best fits their skills and preferences, with fewer administrative burdens, greater flexibility in the classroom, and stronger control over student discipline.
Researchers at Ohio University have found that teacher salaries rise as competition increases. Other research shows class sizes are smaller in public schools facing competition, appealing to some parents and teachers alike. Alternatively, school choice could even allow excellent teachers to accept larger classes of willing students, and to be compensated accordingly.
Not only will a market-based system improve conditions for existing teachers, but it will attract bright, new teachers to the field.
As is typically the case in government, regulations limit the flexibility of public schools, especially with regard to teacher pay. The minimum salary schedule leaves districts with virtually no freedom to adjust pay for variables such as unique skills, private sector experience, or demonstrated excellence.
The current system pays all teachers the same, regardless of grade level, subject, or effectiveness. Consequently, schools find it increasingly difficult to attract top college graduates, especially those with skills in shortage areas such as math and science. Through school choice, teaching will offer a true employment choice for our best and brightest.
Competition creates better working conditions, more competitive salaries, and greater public esteem for teachers. School choice will free teachers for a better professional future.
Jamie Story is the education policy analyst for the Texas Public Policy Foundation, a non-profit, non-partisan research institute based in Austin.