As we head toward Independence Day on Monday, it seems like a good time to consider educational freedom.

If we were designing a system of education today, it’s unlikely anyone would suggest building schools and assigning kids to them based on where they live. No other area of life works that way—not even other levels of education, like preschool or college. Food stamp recipients aren’t assigned to government‐​run grocery stores. Medicare and Medicaid don’t require recipients to see a ZIP‐​code assigned doctor. K‑12 education is an anomaly.

It’s easy to see why children were residentially assigned to schools back in the 1800s when the public school system was started. Transportation and communication were incredibly difficult. Since we no longer face the same limitations, it makes no sense to continue funding education this way.

That’s where educational freedom comes in. Rather than funding a system and requiring kids to attend a specific school based on where they live, we can fund students and let families find the options that work for them.

The benefits to funding students are enormous. Parents would be empowered to choose the education that works best for their individual children. This is incredibly important because we know one size doesn’t fit all in education—even within a family. It also helps parents ensure their children are receiving an education that fits their values.

Educators would also benefit because they’d be able to choose from a wide variety of work environments rather than being largely locked in the district system. Classical schools, unschooling learning centers, hybrid options, STEM‐​focused schools, Montessori or Waldorf environments—the possibilities are almost limitless. Teachers could also become entrepreneurs by opening their own learning centers that give them ultimate autonomy. Importantly, educators would have more say in their compensation packages instead of being lumped into a union contract.

With widespread educational freedom, schools and other learning options would be better able to innovate and compete to attract and retain students. The growing popularity of microschools mean even students in rural areas can benefit from these new opportunities.

Educational freedom is also the best way to reduce the rampant conflict that is frequently seen in public schools. When parents are free to choose their children’s learning environments, they no longer need to engage in political battles to decide whose preferences will win the day.

Fortunately, educational freedom is on the march. Last year, 18 states started or expanded education choice programs. Six of those states adopted education savings accounts, which let parents use funds for tuition, tutoring, curriculum, and other education‐​related expenses. West Virginia led the pack by adopting a nearly universal program that’s open to all kids currently in public school or about to enter kindergarten. And just last week, Arizona lawmakers passed the nation’s first truly universal ESA, which the governor has indicated he’ll sign.

We’re finally entering a new era in education—one that recognizes and prioritizes the needs of individual students. Recent polls and elections indicate that parents want more options, not fewer. By expanding educational freedom, we can help put every child on the path to a bright future.