Political barriers exist because public schools are government
entities. In such an environment, the most politically engaged
special interest groups are able to exert the most influence
over the government-run system. In most states, it is school
employee labor unions (such as the National Education
Association, the American Federation of Teachers, and their
state and local affiliates) that are the primary beneficiaries
of the current monopoly system. They are the most active
opponents of school choice because when families are empowered
to choose nongovernment schools, the unions lose money. To union
leaders, maintaining the current education monopoly is critical
for the political and financial well-being of their
organizations. It is in the unions' self-interest for parents
not to be given the ability to choose the best and safest
schools for their children. In addition to school employee labor
unions, opponents of school choice include government school
associations, teachers and other unionized school em