School Choice in Canada: Lessons for America

by Mark Milke
The Heritage Foundation
November 08, 2010

Canada might be perceived as having “socialized” education, akin to its “top down” health care system. In reality, several Canadian provinces have a flourishing “bottom up” choice-based primary and secondary education system. The province of Alberta has been especially supportive of school choice. Under the Canadian constitution, education is a provincial responsibility, with which the federal government has not interfered. In Alberta, parents expect—and have—a wide variety of educational options for how to educate their children, a policy outcome that American states should emulate.  the rest

Because of constitutional and other differences between the United States and Canada, several of Alberta’s choice-based options would not translate into the context of American states. But the key aspect of Alberta’s school system that can be copied anywhere is the climate of choice that the province has long encouraged.