Hannah-Jones sends daughter to better school after criticism

Nikole Hannah-Jones, a journalist and activist, enrolled her daughter in underperforming New York City public schools hoping to spur improvement through her family’s presence and activism. However, her daughter expressed dissatisfaction with the quality of education, and Hannah-Jones eventually transferred her to a selective high school.

Hannah-Jones wrote about this experience in The New York Times, acknowledging that her initial approach did not work as intended.

The decision reflects a broader debate about “exit rights” versus “voice”, whether parents should attempt to reform schools from within or choose alternatives for their children. Economist Albert Hirschman theorized that influential parents leaving flawed institutions could hinder reform efforts, but legal scholar Ilya Volokh argues this only applies in specific circumstances. Volokh contends that expanding school choice can incentivize improvements in schools that students leave behind, as evidenced by studies of school voucher programs.

Volokh also shares his personal experience. His family emigrated from the Soviet Union to the United States, and later moved to Lexington, Massachusetts, for its better schools, which aided both his and his daughter’s education. He points to programs like METCO in the Boston area, which allows inner-city students to attend suburban schools, as successful examples of how choice can benefit disadvantaged students.

He concludes that while access to better options isn’t equal, expanding exit rights and choice can improve outcomes for all students.