CTU president reportedly puts her child in private school but opposes choice for others

Chicago Teachers Union President Stacy Davis Gates has been vehemently opposed to school choice, calling it ‘racist.’ But she reportedly put one of her own children in private school. Choice for me, but not for thee?

Chicago Teachers Union President Stacy Davis Gates vehemently opposes school choice, but she reportedly now sends one of her three children to a private high school in Chicago.

She and the CTU have been actively working to kill Illinois’ only school choice program, the Invest in Kids tax credit scholarship program. While Davis Gates apparently can choose an alternative to failing Chicago Public Schools for her child, she is actively working to kill that choice for low-income families: Invest in Kids expires at the end of 2023.

Davis Gates previously stressed to Chicago Magazine the importance of someone in her role sending her kids to public school.

“I can’t advocate on behalf of public education and the children of this city and educators in this city without it taking root in my own household,” Davis Gates said.

She also said, “School choice was actually the choice of racists. It was created to avoid integrating schools with Black children.”

Davis Gates’ child is listed on a private school athletic roster. She follows him on social media. The school’s principal declined comment and Davis Gates did not respond to media requests for comment.

Davis Gates is now apparently one of many public figures to enjoy the merits of private schools. Several Illinois state government leaders also choose private schools for their children.

But they couldn’t figure out how to include that choice in the state budget for 9,600 low-income students during the spring. They have a final chance during the fall veto session to save the program that allows low-income students to attend a private school that better fits their needs.

You have to wonder: If the teachers union leader who wants to kill school choice has made the private school choice for her own child, how convincing are her arguments against school choice for low-income children with few options for breaking the cycle of generational poverty?