While the benefits to consumers of free market competition are obvious in virtually every sector of the economy, one vital institution remains resistant to competition — K-12 public education. In America, state and local governments, supported by the federal government, run a near monopoly. Though funded by an individual’s taxes, the vast majority of families have little choice but to send their students to the traditional public school.

As the pandemic forced parents to take a greater look and involvement in their child’s education, they became more of a watchdog, thus spurring an increase in children attending charter, private, homeschool or micro schools.

In a country that likes to be #1, would competition in our education system produce a better result for our children?