School Choice, through the eyes of this autism mom

How does school choice effect students like my son?  I thought about this question on my run today. It was a perfect late fall day for a run, and out there, as my feet rhythmically hit the ground, my mind sorts through all the random thoughts to find clarity.  Today's clarity came in the form of school choice and special needs kids.

I could be wrong, I freely admit that from the onset.  

School choice is essentially privatization of education.  Which may or may not work for typical kids; it definitely will not work for kids like my son.  It won't work for him because he doesn't conform, he will not quickly master skills, or demonstrate standards.  In a business model that rewards progress my son would become akin to a defective part.  He would be cast aside, kept quiet, with minimal support and even fewer resources.   His education costs significantly more and yields considerably less, from a standardized measurement perspective.  He didn't learn to read in first grade or second grade or even in third grade.  He finally discovered literacy as a senior in high school, though he still has a long way to go to be considered functionally literate.

The value of his education isn't measured by tests, or by mastery.  The value of his education is in the small triumphs each day brings. The value of his education is in the life skills he teaches his peers.   Nest time you hear someone touting school choice, consider what could be lost, consider who could be overlooked, consider the consequences for kids who have no voice.