school choice

noun

US : a program or policy in which students are given the choice to use public funds to attend a school other than their district's public school (as at a charter school, private school, home school, or at a public school in a different district)
Voucher plans were adopted largely as a last resort, an effort to guarantee a semblance of school choice for low-income minority students in failing inner-city schools.Jeffrey Rosen
To be sure, even their most enthusiastic defenders acknowledge that many public schools, especially in big cities are riven with serious problems. The debate over "school choice" and tax vouchers for private schools illustrates the widespread discontent with public schools.Dirk Johnson

Examples of school choice in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Opponents of school choice believe that education is a zero-sum game, and that private schools are a threat to the public system. The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 5 June 2025 Polling indicates the popularity of school choice among minority communities nationwide. Valeria Gurr, Boston Herald, 2 June 2025 In Florida, there is a significant demand for new and innovative education options, such as classical schools, because, thanks to school choice, Florida families control nearly $4 billion in education funds that are available for spending. Kelly Garcia, The Orlando Sentinel, 30 May 2025 At the beginning of the hearing, McMahon said her three priorities for the department are school choice, literacy rates and returning education to the states. Lexi Lonas Cochran, The Hill, 21 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for school choice

Word History

First Known Use

1988, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of school choice was in 1988

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Cite this Entry

“School choice.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/school%20choice. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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