Michigan state education board president fights parental choice

By Tom Gantert | Michigan Capitol Confidential

The president of the Michigan State Board of Education said there are “detrimental effects” on education performance with a school marketplace where parents are left to decide.

John Austin made the comments in an email when asked about accountability of charter public schools. He said parents don’t have “perfect information” about education quality and “many parents and their students can’t execute a choice if they wanted to… they don’t have time energy, transportation money to pick or get to a different school.”

Austin’s comments are part of growing sentiment among the public sector’s top decision makers that charter schools need more oversight.

at Michigan Capitol Confidential.