School choice is expanding, but significant work remains to be done, according to a recent article featured in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

According to the article, at the start of the decade, charter schools in America served 340,000 students.  This number has grown to 1.4 million students in the 2008-09 school year, and is projected to reach 3 million by 2015 if this trend continues.  Many parents are turning to charters as an escape from failing neighborhood schools, offering students a more robust educational option.

In regards to the increase in students pursing school choice options, Jeanne Allen, president of the Center for Education Reform said, "Despite lots of progress on building better and more accountable schools, we're still a long way from nirvana.  As along you have a system that is still failing to provide an adequate education to most of its kids, you're going to have a demand for options."

Traditional schools across America continue to ignore the needs of many of their students.  All students deserve the right to a high-quality education, despite their socio-economic background, race, and/or location. Until the traditional schools adequately address their needs, school choice will be necessary.