The Dark Side of School Choice: How Private Schools Can Abuse and Manipulate Children

The rise of private schools in Arkansas, fueled by the Education Freedom Account program, has been touted as a victory for parental choice and educational freedom. But beneath this surface lies a more sinister reality that threatens the well-being and safety of children with disabilities.

A video obtained by ProPublica shows Mary “Tracy” Morrison, founder of The Delta Institute for the Developing Brain, leading a group discussion in which she encouraged students to assault a 13-year-old boy. The attack lasted nearly 40 minutes, with three other school employees present but failing to intervene. The incident raises disturbing questions about Arkansas’ oversight of private schools.

The state has chosen not to regulate these institutions, instead opting for a hands-off approach that prioritizes parental choice over child safety. Private schools are required to conduct regular fire drills and keep immunization records, but there is no review of their curriculum or the backgrounds and capabilities of their operators.

Morrison’s background is shrouded in mystery. She claims a doctorate in occupational therapy and cognitive neuroscience from Washington University in St. Louis, but the university has clarified that her degree is only in occupational therapy. Her resume suggests a lack of experience running schools, yet she presented herself as an expert in autism and ADHD to parents desperate for answers.

The case of The Delta Institute is not an isolated incident. ProPublica’s investigation reveals a surge in new private schools across Arkansas, with over 100 opening since the Education Freedom Account program was introduced. These institutions often operate without oversight or accountability, free to impose their own brand of discipline and curriculum on vulnerable children.

Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders has championed the Education Freedom Accounts as a means of giving students more educational opportunities. However, evidence suggests that these programs have created a culture of unchecked abuse and manipulation, where private schools can operate with impunity as long as they meet basic regulatory requirements.

The state’s response to revelations about The Delta Institute has been lukewarm at best. Governor Sanders’ office and the Arkansas Department of Education emphasized their commitment to student safety, but officials fell silent when pressed for specific answers on oversight and accountability.

As more families turn to private schools in search of alternative educational options, policymakers must take a closer look at the risks and consequences of unregulated private education. The case of Mary “Tracy” Morrison and her school serves as a stark warning about the dangers of unchecked power and the importance of prioritizing child safety above all else.

The future of Arkansas’ Education Freedom Account program hangs in the balance, with many questioning whether it has created more problems than solutions. As policymakers grapple with the implications of this experiment, they must remember that children are not mere commodities to be traded or exploited for the sake of parental choice. Their well-being and safety should always come first.

In the aftermath of Morrison’s assault on her son, one thing is clear: the state’s lack of oversight has created a culture of impunity in which private schools can abuse and manipulate children with impunity. Arkansas policymakers must take a hard look at their priorities and commit to ensuring that every child, regardless of their disability or background, receives a safe and nurturing educational environment.

The case of The Delta Institute serves as a reminder that school choice can be a double-edged sword. While it may provide families with alternative options, it also creates an environment in which unqualified operators can exploit vulnerable children for personal gain. As policymakers grapple with the complexities of education reform, they must never forget that child safety should always come first.

A mother who reported abuse at The Delta Institute noted, “I was blinded by the promise of a better education and the idea that I could trust someone else to take care of my child.” But as the case of Mary “Tracy” Morrison and her school so starkly illustrates, sometimes the greatest danger lies not in the absence of oversight but in the presence of unchecked power.