Do You Believe In Miracles?

In unstable times, when foment and change surge everywhere, it’s natural to sound the alarm. However, effective leadership calls for a different response. And perhaps the highest form of leadership is to embrace the foment and tumult as a welcome catalyst for miracles and breakthroughs otherwise unreachable. 

Alexander de Tocqueville wrote, “Born often under another sky, placed in the middle of an always moving scene, himself driven by the irresistible torrent which draws all about him, the American has no time to tie himself to anything, he grows accustomed only to change, and ends by regarding it as the natural state of man. He feels the need of it, more he loves it; for the instability; instead of meaning disaster to him, seems to give birth only to miracles all about him.”

Our national education landscape is certainly not stable right now, and the narrative is increasingly dominated, on the one hand, by a crisis (low achievement in reading and math) and, on the other hand, by a popular groundswell (the rise of school choice). It’s an “irresistible torrent.”

Beyond the divided politics and personal perspectives, the fact must be faced: The big story emerging in American education is the collision of low achievement with increasing competition and choice and how these forces play out in our public school districts.

Some may see alarming scenarios, while others perceive opportunities for innovation and improvement. One thing’s for sure: It’s a moment that calls for leadership because the status quo will not hold.

This past week, Tennessee became the 13th state to pass universal school choice legislation, joining Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Utah, and West Virginia. 

The collection of 13 states invites remembrances of the American Revolution, and again, whatever an individual leader’s feelings are about school choice initiatives, there’s no denying that a revolution of choice, options, and competition is coming to public education.

The political momentum of school choice reflects its popularity among key constituent groups, most importantly, parents, including a large majority of parents in diverse demographics. 

Nearly 8 out of 10 Black parents support some form of school choice.

Large majorities of Hispanic voters, as many as 80%, support school choice initiatives.

More than 6 in 10 parents say they have too little control over their children’s education.

Those numbers indicate potent sentiment that translates into political action. A movement is underway, and wherever on the spectrum of opinion you land, it’s wise to understand and respond to what’s happening.

Movement and motion have always been at the heart of the American story.  When people have the power to make moves, they will. Technology is driving education options, and those options are providing parents with ever-increasing choices.

Inexorable forces drive the political momentum for school choice legislation. The increasing momentum grows, and the spread of consequent legislation means that some parents will choose schooling outside of public schools. 

An important question for superintendents to ponder and wrestle with is: What does this mean for our leadership choices within the world of public education? 

We know this much: When math and reading achievement increase, everybody does better, and everybody is happier about it. They become satisfied customers. And satisfied customers do something: They stay.

Powerful confluences of large-scale political, cultural, and demographic tides are moving US education toward universal school choice. Tides move slowly, but they can’t be stopped. 

Our mission at New Era Superintendents is to be here for you with the best leadership support, scaleable success stories, and achievement resources available as you lead your district to new heights during these days of change, challenge, and opportunity. 

Take heart: In all this, opportunity is the real story. Times like these, fraught with unknowns and instabilities, are, as every successful leader knows, the moments that give birth to “miracles all about.”