Key Legislation is signed to give parents more public school options

From Sen. Huffs office:

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger joined Sen. Bob Huff, R - Diamond Bar, in supporting school choice by signing Senate Bill 680.  The legislation will extend the only authentic school choice law available to parents and students in California.

Jointly authored by Huff and Sen. Romero, D - Los Angeles, District of Choice gives parents and students more quality public school options beyond their home district.  Traditionally, students are bound to one public school option that may or may not meet their individual needs.  But the District of Choice program creates new opportunities for students by breaking through district boundaries.

"I'm not interested in arbitrary district lines someone sketched on a map," continued Huff.  "I'm interested in giving all kids the best possible education."

The program not only gives kids new opportunities, but it also improves the overall education system by infusing competition into the schools.  When schools know that parents can seamlessly move from one district to another, schools ensure that they are meeting the needs of the students to maintain enrollment. 

"No one holds schools more accountable than parents do," said Huff.  "They just know better than anyone else what is best for their child."

There are currently some 5,000 children depending on the District of Choice program and by opening it up to all of California, many more schools and students are expected to participate.  If the legislation was not approved, all participating students would have been obligated to leave their district of choice and forced to move to unfamiliar schools.

In addition to signing the bill, Governor Schwarzenegger has made the District of Choice program a key element in his recent education reform package to make California eligible for federal Race to the Top funds.