2012 Leaders in Action Honoree:

The Douglas County School Choice Movement

Few initiatives offer greater promise of transforming the public-education system and reenergizing the school-choice public-policy debate than the exciting local initiative undertaken by the Douglas County School Choice Movement.  In Douglas County, Colorado, ordinary parents have worked together with their elected officials to knock down barriers to high-quality options for all schoolchildren.

This movement is succeeding by applying to education the historic American principles of free markets, parental leadership, local control and honest hard work – all toward the common goal of creating for children the most free, customized, efficient and accomplished public-education system possible.  These approaches demand less bureaucracy, streamlined services for children and more efficient strategies to treat parents like real customers, teachers like real professionals and children like they matter – like real Americans. 

The Leadership Program of the Rockies salutes the all those dedicated to the school-choice movement in Douglas County for putting into practice the timeless principles of freedom.  Indeed, they have mounted a truly grassroots movement that is expanding the frontiers of liberty locally while inspiring others throughout the country to do the same.

February 24-25, 2012 •  The Broadmoor Hotel  •  Colorado Springs, CO