An opinion piece by Dr. Patrick Miller highlights how education freedom can serve as a transformative force for economic development, particularly in rural areas of Mississippi. According to Miller, a strong and reputable school system is one of the most effective tools communities possess for attracting and retaining residents. While industrial parks and tax incentives are often prioritized in economic strategies, the real engine for growth may lie in empowering families with greater control over their children’s education.
Miller argues that education should not only be viewed through the lens of academic outcomes but also as a driver of broader community prosperity. Drawing from his research and a long-standing observation made at Starkville City Hall—that education is the primary catalyst for local economic advancement—he points out a disconnect between rhetoric and policy. Despite widespread acknowledgment of education’s importance, current laws do not fully support its role in fostering sustainable development.
The concept of school choice introduces market-like dynamics into the public education system. When parents can select schools, institutions are incentivized to improve performance, innovate, and better respond to community needs. This is especially critical in small towns where economic stagnation, low workforce participation (currently at 55.7%, among the lowest nationally), and declining tax revenues are persistent challenges. These issues are closely tied to underperformance in schools.
Recent data from the 2025 MAAP assessments reveal that less than half of Mississippi’s eighth graders meet grade-level benchmarks in core subjects: only 41.7% in English language arts and 47.6% in mathematics. Such gaps contribute directly to workforce shortages, which businesses consistently cite as a top barrier to growth. By enabling school choice, communities can begin to reverse this trend, creating a more skilled labor pool over time.
Moreover, public school districts in rural counties are often among the largest local employers. Unlike private enterprises that must adapt to customer demands, many school systems operate without similar accountability to families. Miller contends that if education is truly the cornerstone of economic progress, then schools must function with the same strategic focus on satisfaction and outcomes as any major employer.
Critics often claim that school choice could destabilize funding for traditional public schools. However, Miller counters that the initial cost of implementing a universal choice program amounts to roughly 3% of the state’s total K–12 education budget—a manageable investment. The long-term benefits, including increased property values, higher consumer spending, and expanded tax receipts from incoming families, far outweigh these early expenditures. This creates a positive economic ripple effect that strengthens the entire community.
A high-quality school system sends powerful signals: to businesses, it indicates a pipeline of capable future employees; to young families, it offers a compelling reason to settle and invest locally. But success requires collaboration. School administrators, economic development agencies, local officials, and civic organizations must work together to promote educational strengths and align community goals.
Ultimately, Miller sees education freedom not as a threat to public education, but as a strategic opportunity to revitalize rural economies. By building on the momentum of the so-called “Mississippi Miracle” in academic improvement and placing families at the center of decision-making, communities can unlock a powerful, underutilized asset in their development toolkit.
— news from The Greenwood Commonwealth
— News Original —
Miller: The Hidden Gem – Why education freedom is the new economic development
Below is an opinion column by Dr. Patrick Miller: n nA well-crafted school reputation is the most effective tool a community has for attracting and keeping people. If education drives community growth, legislation must reflect this core belief. n nForget industrial parks. The driver for economic growth in rural Mississippi is education freedom, which is the most powerful yet often overlooked tool in our economic development chest. n nI’ve dedicated my academic research to the topic, stemming from a comment I heard years ago at Starkville City Hall: “Education is the biggest driver of community-economic development.” While lawmakers often repeat that phrase, our existing education laws fail to bring that great idea to fruition. n nWhile the movement rightly focuses on families, teaching, and learning, there’s also a powerful economic impact to consider: when schools compete and parents have universal school choice, communities—especially rural ones—gain a foundation for stronger local economies. n nIn our small towns, leaders struggle to attract businesses and retain skilled talent. That challenge lies at the feet of poor academic achievement, a shrinking tax base, and a community’s inability to build a strong, unified brand or “sense of place.” n nYes, the academic success of the “Mississippi Miracle” is real, proving we have excellent teachers and that reform works. But it is not the final goal. Our current system’s failure to meet students’ needs by the 8th grade creates a wide achievement gap. According to the 2025 MAAP data, fewer than half of our 8th graders are reading and doing math at grade level, with only 41.7% in English and 47.6% in math. n nWhen over half of our 8th graders aren’t on grade level, we are setting ourselves up for the very workforce shortage that Mississippi businesses identify as our greatest economic challenge. This predicament is reflected in our state’s labor force participation rate, which consistently ranks among the lowest in the nation (55.7%). School choice provides the natural solution through common-sense principles that drive successful businesses. n nThis market failure is particularly serious because, in most rural Mississippi counties, the local school district is one of the largest single employers and an important economic engine. Yet, unlike any major private local industry, be it a manufacturing plant or a regional hospital, it is rarely forced to act with a strategic focus on its customers, and in the case of schools, that’s measured by parent satisfaction. If education is truly the “biggest driver,” we n nmust demand that the institution responsible operates with the same level of focus and commitment demanded of any successful, major employer. n nTherefore, the entire issue centers around competition. In a society driven by consumers, education must adapt. When a school system needs to compete for students, the mindset changes immediately. Education freedom will encourage districts to act proactively, innovate in their missions, set the stage for the kind of graduates they want to produce, and share their story with the community. In the end, the most meaningful form of accountability is simple: parents can choose another school, creating a powerful incentive for academic improvement and reputation building. n nOpponents of education freedom often worry that school choice policies will immediately drain local resources. This fear of a funding collapse is overstated and fiscally manageable. The initial phase-in cost of a universal school choice program represents only about 3% of the state’s total K-12 spending, which is a modest investment that is quickly eclipsed by the long-term economic benefits at the local level. When good schools attract a new family to town, their new property taxes, sales tax, and spending create a powerful economic multiplier effect. This new revenue quickly surpasses the cost of funding a student, permanently expanding the entire local tax base. School choice and competition don’t deplete local wallets. They are a long-term strategy to grow the community’s economic profile. n nA well-crafted school reputation is the most effective tool a community has for attracting and keeping people. A strong school brand sends two important economic signals: first, to new businesses and industry, it signals a committed, quality future workforce; and second, to young, talented families, it provides a compelling reason to put down roots and stay in the community. n nEmpowering parents to choose their kids’ education is an important first step toward strengthening communities, but success depends on local collaboration. School leaders must work with economic developers, local government, and community boards to promote their schools’ strengths and unify the community’s vision. If education drives community growth, legislation must reflect this core belief. n nFor rural Mississippi, a foundation for stronger local economies starts with innovative thinking that empowers parents, leverages the “Mississippi Miracle,” and proves that education freedom is the hidden gem of economic development. n nDr. Patrick Miller n nDr. Miller is the Vice President of Development at Empower Mississippi, where he leads the development team and oversees all fundraising and stewardship initiatives.