Re-posted from a Naples Daily News op-ed column.

By Erika Donalds, Constitution Revision Commission member

Education reform requires thick skin. As the League of Women Voters cheered the end of Amendment 8, I was sick to my stomach.

Voters deserved to have a say whether to allow the school district monopoly over schools to continue, but activist judges decided otherwise. League members patted themselves on the back while blocking mothers from voting on something most precious to them: the education of their children.

They grinned at the news while hurting the women they want to run for office, squashing the term-limit policy and ensuring more career politicians stay cozy in their school board seats.

The once-laudable League disgraced its mission and showed it’s yet another FEA surrogate to obstructing school choice.

The devastating 4-3 Supreme Court decision to remove Amendment 8 from the ballot was a loss not just for many students in desperate need of education reform, but millions of voters now susceptible to disenfranchisement anytime an activist group pushes and funds its agenda.

In addition to term limits and civics education, the most publicly contentious priority was to create new pathways for public schools of choice for Florida’s families. We know that choice, competition and innovation are avenues to continuous improvement for our education system.

More parents than ever are selecting schools outside their zoned district school. Parents and the public at large approve of charter schools and other education choice options at an increasing rate. The education establishment sees these trends and has doubled down on its antiquated policies and structure. Their interest is preserving the status quo and maintaining power and control over the most sacred of choices — who will help raise our children.

In Lee and Collier counties, more than 14,600 students attend charter schools at the decision of their families. I cannot emphasize this enough. No one is forcing families into these schools. In many cases, there are waiting lists.

Most charter schools are great examples of student success and school resourcefulness. The $3 billion in local tax dollars collected statewide that go to traditional district schools are never seen by charter schools — they are achieving results for students with fewer dollars.

Despite tremendous gains for students, at a cost savings to the state, it’s clear we still live in a state where the education establishment cares more about the system than students. They are considered “butts in seats.” I know this isn’t the sentiment of many hardworking, passionate individual teachers, but the union mentality has lost sight of what matters. It’s incredibly sad, but I won’t pretend it’s surprising.

These latest actions ensure that student-centered choice will now have to expand further through private options instead. Amendment 8 would have created a pathway to more high-quality public schools, but the monopoly defenders and activist Supreme Court won’t have it.

The students most impacted by this awful decision cannot write checks, organize to write misleading editorials or hire high-priced out-of-state lawyers to distort the truth in the courtroom. I was proud and determined to speak up for them. I’ll continue to do so.

Education reformers don’t give up on students. The greater mission of bringing true education freedom to every Florida family will continue. It’s our goal that every child be afforded a free public education that meets his or her unique needs.

Schools can look different and be a perfect fit for an individual child. Please stop fearing something different. Schools of choice are real schools, too, with real students and loving teachers. That’s all that matters.

Families want choices. Choices are working for students. We will find a way to give them the choices they deserve.

You can be sure this isn’t the end. If anything, roadblocks re-energize reformers. We have thick skin.

Constitution Revision Commission member Erika Donalds, of Naples, is a mother of three school-age children and Collier County School Board member. She was the CRC’s main sponsor of Amendment 8.