Because Americans are spending increasing sums on education without noticeable improvement in student achievement, school choice is becoming the hottest item on today's reform agenda. Choice must not be limited to the affluent; it is most needed by financially poor parents whose children are trapped in the most inferior schools. The chief opponents of many statewide choice schemes have been the education establishment fighting to protect its monopoly and job security. Since competition among schools boosts student performance, choice will actually restore respect for teaching. Principal school choice options include magnet schools, open enrollment, tuition tax credits, vouchers, and home schooling. The first two options normally confine choice to public schools, whereas tax credits and vouchers extend freedom of choice to private schools. Although business leaders and many governors are strongly backing choice, critics claim that widespread freedom of choice would turn inner-city schools into dumping grounds for the very poor and hard-to-educate. This contention is refuted soundly by the East Harlem (New York) experience. When choice was adopted there, two schools failing to attract students were closed and later reopened with new staff and programs. The Bush administration should take its cue from choice proponents across America who have overcome educational establishment opposition and introduced competition and accountability into the school system. (MLH)