School Choice in Puerto Rico: New Education Opportunities for Puerto Rican Children

Summary: In Puerto Rico, children struggle in an underperforming education system that has poorer educational outcomes than any of the 50 states on the U.S. mainland. Puerto Rican Governor Ricardo Rosselló and Secretary of Education Julia Keleher have proposed considerable and long-overdue reforms to Puerto Rico’s education system. Their plans seek to make Puerto Rican schools more accountable to parents by providing greater education choice to the island’s residents. The proposed education reforms are not simply due to a failing education system but are modifications that account for migration trends and economic stagnation. These changes are imperative as the tragic effects of Hurricane Maria have only expedited a regional exodus after the storm devastated many homes and schools. Please join us for a discussion about the impact of school choice on children and the future of education in Puerto Rico.