Juan Williams is correct when he suggests that cities and states embrace educational competition by increasing options for parents (“The Scandal of K-12 Education,” op-ed, July 5). Parental choice, whether in the form of vouchers, tax-credit scholarships or educational savings accounts, can raise the level of education for all children by fostering competition among private, parochial and public schools. Parents would be able to chose schools that reflect their values. Furthermore, since most nonpublic schools are religious schools that educate children at half the cost of public schools, there is a potential for significant savings for taxpayers. A landmark study commissioned in 1991 for the New York State Senate by Ron Lauder determined that full parental school choice would have saved New York taxpayers $4 billion a year, which today would exceed $8 billion.

Politicians in many cities and states have a choice and they have chosen unions that protect underperforming schools and underperforming teachers over students. It is time to give parents a choice.

Laurann Pandelakis

NYC teacher/administrator (ret.)

Manhasset, N.Y