Looking back on the path that led me to where I am today, it all comes down to one key decision: I was free to choose my school.
I attended a public magnet school in Miami, Florida, outside of my school district, that specialized in multimedia. It wasn’t a traditional high school; it was a place where students were encouraged to be creative and where I could dip my toe into what I really loved, broadcast journalism. Because I had the freedom to attend an institution that aligned with my interests, I was able to explore journalism early on, alongside teachers and fellow students who were passionate about what, for many of my classmates, would later become our livelihood.
That choice opened doors for me.
By the time I was 17, I was hosting and producing a local TV show, “By Kids for Kids,” which addressed the issues affecting youth in the 1990s, thanks to a collaboration between the local ABC news affiliate and the public magnet school. That opportunity was the result of having access to a school that fit my passion and potential. I felt fulfilled and supported. School became a source of inspiration and the biggest driver in pursuing my dream of a successful career in communications.
For many Hispanic families, the American Dream is rooted in the opportunity to create a better future for themselves. And that future starts with a good education. But here’s the hard truth: One in four students in America’s K-12 classrooms is Latino and underserved, not because Latino students lack potential, but because they often lack real choices. And there are more challenges: Hispanics face poverty, language barriers, and limited access to resources, which can set students back.
School choice allows education funding to follow the student, whether they attend a traditional public school, a charter school, a private school, or even learn at home. Support for school choice in the Hispanic community is strong. More than two-thirds of Hispanic parents support school choice policies like charter schools, vouchers, and Education Savings Accounts (ESAs).
These programs are growing and changing lives like mine across the country. When we remove barriers such as strict district boundaries, complicated regulations, or high costs, we create space for students to learn in an environment that works best for them.
There’s another reason it matters: The future of our country depends on it. By 2030, nearly 30% of K-12 enrollment in American public schools will be Hispanic. And one in five workers will be Latino. We can’t afford to leave a generation behind.
The good news? We’ve made progress.
In 1996, just over half of young Hispanic adults had graduated from high school. By 2021, that number had risen to almost 89%. While that’s worth celebrating, there’s still work to be done.
There are currently 34 states and territories (including D.C. and Puerto Rico) that offer at least one form of school choice. But we shouldn’t stop until every child in every ZIP code in the United States has the same opportunity I had to kick-start his or her future.
Let’s lean on the founding principles of freedom in the U.S. that allow unlimited opportunities for all Americans, including Hispanics. Let’s push for real change. Because when Hispanic students have the chance to thrive, our whole country benefits. Let’s build an education system that recognizes every child’s potential and gives every family the freedom to choose the best path forward—school choice is not about politics, but about giving families the tools they need to help their children succeed.