Ayesha Roscoe

I'm Ayesha Roscoe and this is the Sunday Story from Up First.

This week, school choice.

Those two words cover all kinds of programs that are meant to let parents choose to send their child to a school other than their neighborhood public school.

Maybe it's to another public school or a public charter school or even a private school.

In the U.S., school choice is often politically charged and even emotional.

Today on the Sunday Story, NPR education correspondent Corey Turner takes us to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, a city swimming in choice, to understand what increased school choice really looks like for parents who want the best for their kids.

Corey joins us now.

Welcome.

Thanks for having me, Aisha.

So, Corey, school choice is this idea that covers such a wide range of programs and policies.

Can you walk us through the basics?

I mean, that's nothing to sneeze at.

When we come back, just what that competition actually looks like inside schools.

Stay with us.

We're back with NPR education correspondent Corey Turner.

all right, Corey, you're taking us to see the Rapids.

Like, where do we start?

Tell me more about, like, why did the district feel like they have to start closing schools?

It seems like it's having a real impact, right?

Hmm, okay.