Is school "choice" a myth?

So it is according to Thomas J. Gentzel, Executive Director of the National School Boards Association. He is published in the Palm Beach Post today in a takedown of Charter Schools saying, "it's time to debunk the myth of [school] choice." School choice would likely have a grave impact on our carbon footprint and commuting patterns.

From the opinion piece by Mr. Thomas Gentzel:

     Our nation’s grassroots democracy was founded on the principle that all children, regardless of ZIP code, deserve access to a world-class education. Nine out of 10 school-age children today are enrolled in public schools, which are their gateway to the future. Choice absent accountability can hurt vulnerable students when the choice turns out to be a bad one. Unfortunately, the “choice” movement — and its glossy public relations campaign that masks flaws by hyping “empowerment” — jeopardizes opportunity for all students, ultimately harming our nation’s global readiness and economic prosperity.
     Choice exists within the public school system, as magnet schools and charters approved by local school boards attest — with a key difference: accountability. Much like nutrition labeling, publicly funded education ensures that student outcomes are fully accountable to the public — and accountability leads to improved outcome for all students. It is important to be aware of the choice that exists now in our nation’s public schools, and discover why public school choice is the best choice — www.standup4publicschools.org.

[and...]

     America’s school boards understand that transparency, accountability, and real achievement demand true engagement, not PR hype. Research shows a significant relationship between effective school board governance and student achievement. According to the Center for Public Education, the Iowa Lighthouse study, and others, strong local governance means schools boards that create vision, are accountable, make effective policy, support strong teaching and learning, engage families and communities, and ensure adequate funding for their schools. Across local community public schools, student and financial performance evaluation and open-meeting requirements are the rule, not the exception.
     It’s time to debunk the myth of choice. It’s time to reveal the profiteers who are funding the school choice movement to line their own pockets. It’s time to look at real results, and see that student performance data does not support educational privatization. It’s time to recognize that “real choice” is in the public schools, not “out there.”