Condoleezza Rice Calls for School Choice to Address “the Civil Rights Issue of Our Day”

Former Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice waves to the crowd
prior to her speech last night at the GOP Convention.

Earlier this week we implored New Jersey Governor Chris Christie to speak about the need for expanded educational options during his speech at the Republican National Convention.  But it was former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice who last night gave what many have called the best speech of the entire GOP Convention.  Rice spoke of her personal story growing up in the Jim Crow south and rising above the entrenched segregation to become the secretary of state.  And she also spoke at length about the education crisis in America:

But today, today, when I can look at your zip code and I can tell whether you're going to get a good education, can I honestly say it does not matter where you came from, it matters where you are going?  The crisis in K-12 education is a threat to the very fabric of who we are.

Rice continued:

And we need to give parents greater choice, particularly, particularly poor parents whose kids, very often minorities, are trapped in failing neighborhood schools.  This is the civil rights issue of our day.

Many have called her speech “presidential” and “secure.”  A former speechwriter for President Reagan called the speech a “serious speech about big things.”  We also appreciate how it didn't strike a partisan tone, which is fitting, considering the fact that education reform is strongly embraced by members of both political parties.

One thing is for sure: Condoleezza Rice joins a strong list of supporters—both Democrats and Republicans—who support school choice. 

Watch the video below to see for yourself:



- American Federation for Children | Alliance for School Choice, MSG