The year 2011 was declared by the Wall Street Journal to be “The Year of School Choice,” as twelve states and the District of Columbia gave parents more opportunities to choose the best education for their children.

Now, more families in America have options such as charter schools, vouchers, tax credits, homeschooling, online learning, attending school in another district, and more.

It appears that the Mississippi Legislature is finally poised to allow the creation of charter schools – and by that, I mean real charter schools, not the counterfeit kind that exists in our current law.

But charter schools ought to be only the starting point for expanding options for parents in Mississippi. Our state Constitution won’t allow vouchers at this point, but other options are available, especially for parents who can’t afford private schools or can’t afford to move to a different district or who can’t home school.

Let’s make 2012 “The Year of School Choice” in Mississippi.