Hokanson Jr.

A quarter-century ago, a national commission issued "A Nation at Risk," a report that provided a stinging indictment of a public education system that was failing our children. This report should have served as a loud buzzer that would stir us from our educational slumber.

State and federal lawmakers have made some progress toward improving education since 1983. Stronger academic standards for students, better assessments, more data and transparency, greater focus on teacher quality, and the creation of charter schools have all been positive steps. Yet we remain a nation at risk. International studies show that U.S. students are falling significantly behind children in many other developed countries in reading, math and science.

America's entrenched education bureaucracy must accept some responsibility for these dismal results. Though Though special interests have grudgingly accepted some reforms, far too many good ideas, such as meaningful school choice, remain "out of bounds." Education bureaucrats seem willing to embrace just enough reform to ensure that the status quo is maintained.

Parents have provided the only sunlight amid this haze of persistent educational mediocrity in America. Better in tune with educational issues than almost every so-called expert, America's parents have increasingly cried out for more educational options. They want great public schools, public charter schools, and homeschooling rights, and yes, they want private school choice.

Parents don't understand why - in a country where far too many poor children are denied a quality education simply because they are poor - we cannot bring our public school system into the 21st century. They know it's not impossible; it simply takes political courage.

To reform education, more lawmakers must be willing to muster the political courage exhibited in Pennsylvania. Thanks to former Gov. Tom Ridge and Gov. Rendell, Pennsylvania has proved to the nation that improving the public education system while offering private school choice is a smart formula for achieving results.

Pennsylvania has the largest school-choice program in the country. Pennsylvania's charter school law is strong. And the state has adopted innovative ways of recruiting career changers into the teaching profession.

The result: Pennsylvania ranks fifth in the nation in student achievement, and has high school graduation rates that significantly outpace the national average. Of course, the commonwealth has a long way to go to ensure educational opportunity for every student. But thanks to bipartisan support for providing a portfolio of reforms, the state is off to a good start.

Luckily, Pennsylvania isn't alone.

Because of courageous legislators and governors, and hardworking parents in nine states and the District of Columbia, there are 16 private school-choice programs - vouchers and scholarship tax credits - with student enrollment increasing by 86 percent in just five years.

For these reforms to make a difference, however, we must continue this trend. If lawmakers are serious about educating every child, then all options should be on the table. A 21st-century educational system should embrace a portfolio of reforms and options. Our decisions must be governed by doing whatever is necessary to educate all children.

Until every state in the nation ramps up its reform efforts in a significant way, we're leaving far too much of our children's futures to chance - and putting far too much at risk.