Merriweather: All parents, whether they send their children to public or private schools, have been forced to adjust to a life where children remain home during what used to be the school day. But few, if any, public school parents must worry whether their child’s school will survive this pandemic. The nationwide, mandatory shutdown of all schools was unprecedented and unpredictable.

Unlike public policy, the pandemic did not discriminate between public or private school students and families. America’s reaction should not either. To ensure all students are supported, there is a need for local officials to adhere to federal relief guidelines and support private school.

 Cooke: The American Federation for Children recently published a national poll by RealClear Opinion Research, which shows that the vast majority of parents would prefer to send their children to a school other than their ZIP code assigned school. From your work with families, what is at the heart of this trend?

Merriweather: Our recent poll by RealClear Opinion Research surveyed 2,122 registered voters to gauge if they were likely to continue homeschooling their children after Covid-19 lockdowns. Overall, the results showed 40% of families are more likely to homeschool or virtual school after lockdowns. By race and ethnicity, the results were as follows:

• White: 36.3%
• Black: 50.4%
• Hispanic: 38.2%
• Asian: 53.8%

There have been other national studies that show higher percentages.

I believe these trends are the result of many things. One, parents have unfortunately noticed how inefficient government bureaucracies can be. Some parents lacked the simple resources they needed to effectively educate their children at home, while others found the lessons and curriculum they were given subpar.

Two, there is no denying many students don’t like going to school. This could be a result of school safety, bullying, contempt, and more. Consequently, many families may struggle to send their children back to places that make them unhappy. It has been encouraging to see families explore continuing the homeschool option.

Cooke: What advice would you give to families who are interested in new choices – a new school, a scholarship program, or homeschooling – but are also hesitant to make a change because they feel inadequate in making educational choices?

Merriweather: The School Choice Roadmap: 7 Step to helping families discover their K-12 school options is a great book to help parents navigate the growing array of school options.

Cooke: What do you say to critics who believe that families choosing to leave public school hurts the entire system financially and therefore other children in their community?

Merriweather: Every American student receives, on average, $15,000 (that’s $375,000 for a classroom of 25). That’s a lot of money. The conversation should surround how these funds are being allocated.

Cooke: The pandemic has also had an impact on school funding nationwide, but specifically in Utah, where we already have the lowest per-pupil funding. What advice would you give to education leaders as they try to navigate this reality and make education policy going forward?

Merriweather: Covid-19 has spurred a much-needed conversation around education innovation. Education reformers should actively listen to families’ needs to craft policies that support families now and in the future. Families are curious to learn about student-centric funding models, and they want access to fun and engaging lessons for their children.

As students are moving into summer breaks, it will be beneficial for education reformers to think critically about rethinking out-of-school-time programs, such as summer camps and after-school programs. All parents will benefit from student-centric funding for all of their educational needs, even those that take place outside the traditional schooling hours.

Cooke: Many people are concerned about education right now and it’s certainly a time of potential innovation. How can people get involved in advocacy to make changes that matter to them?

Merriweather: There are many levels of advocacy, and no role is too small. I encourage everyone to share why education reform matters to them, to team up with a local education reform organization, start an organization, and contact their legislators to let them know if you support or oppose a specific piece of legislation.

Cooke: You’re the director of family engagement at the American Federation for Children. Tell us about the mission and work of this organization.

Merriweather: The American Federation for Children (AFC) seeks to empower families, especially lower-income families, with the freedom to choose the best K-12 education for their children. This work is accomplished through lobbying, political action committee, and highlighting the voices of and training advocates.

Cooke: You’ve chosen to be at this organization. Why is its work important to you?

Merriweather: After my service at the U.S. Department of Education, I was attracted to the progress AFC had made to develop the young adults who have benefited from school choice programs across the country.

As a beneficiary of a tax-credit scholarship program, it is important for me to see more students advocating for school choice and obtaining leadership in education reform organization.