Is this the way to improve our public education in the US?

I usually don't agree with what Europeans do, I lived there for 10 years but I think they have it right in this circumstance.

In the US our government allot money to public schools to educate our students I think it is over 10k per student now highest in the world. In Europe they allot the money to the student allowing the parent to send their children to any school they want, with choices schools will have to compete for those dollars since most parents want to send their children to the best schools,the good ones will grow and expand the poor ones will wither and die it is really quite simple, our free enterprise system works in the same manner.
If you are in business and can't provide a product that has value and is affordable you will be quickly replaced by a business that can, I think this is the solution but for some reason our society does not have the will or common sense to try it see any pitfalls to my idea.

Well, sure; if your goal is education. In the U.S. the goal is indoctrination so that the corporations have plenty of docile, menial workers and the government has plenty of minions willing to accept whatever conditions they're given.

The voucher system is a start. If you REALLY want to improve it, completely privatize it, and have the government give everyone vouchers based on their income.

Another thing we can do is throw out the Union. They are a huge source of problems in public schools. They make it so that there is zero accountability.

I just read the rest of your details, and yes, you are right - our society does not care about our children. When I went to Japan, I was shocked at the way children, even older teenagers. They are held very high and allowed to do whatever they want. In America, all children are looked upon as trouble-makers and criminals, and held under so many rules and so oppressed. It makes perfect sense when you see this attitude that public schools are really looked upon as at best, day care centers, at worst, temporary prisons.

I think we would have to give the schools a way to improve before we could expect them to be able to do something to compete for funding. HOW are schools going to improve is the problem. It's not like they don't WANT to do a better job. It's just finding the way TO do a better job that is the problem.

GW tried that all ready and NEA and NAMBLA went screaming right along with the ACLU about separation of Church and state. People were choosing to place their children in either religious schools or private schools not associated with any religion. They pay taxes too. You should also be aware that NEA is responsible for indoctrinating and not teaching! It is evidenced by the fact the kids graduating are functionally illiterate! They would also create an environment that is not conducive to learning, installing a prison camp environment, rather than remove troublesome kids that are violent and enforce a strict dress code or wear uniforms! More control and monitoring should be given to parents Not Megalithic School Boards!

I attended school in Europe as a child and I agree that the funding for education should go to the student, not the school. The choice of school should also go to the parents and student and not be directed by where you live.

A side benefit of this would be that illegals would no longer have free education and no reason to be here. Sorry, but that is one of the major problems with the education system and the no child left behind act. The illegals are sucking up all of the funding with their "special needs" which would be better placed with legal citizens who need it.

In most places these days that is how it works. I can take my child to any school around and that school will get the money. They don't put ads out or anything, but they know what my children's needs mean for them, cash.

I have used this to my advantage, in situations when they were too slow to act on an issue. My issues get solved much faster now that they understand that I will home-school, or transfer my children.