At $1.73 trillion, California ranks seventh among developed countries for highest gross domestic product (GDP), ahead of Canada ($1.27) and not far behind the United Kingdom ($2.37) (See here and here.) Contributing to the state’s global stature is a culture that encourages innovation and fosters “pro-ams” or professional amateurs, a phrase coined by Charles Leadbeater, innovation expert and former advisor to British Prime Minister Tony Blair. A decade ago Leadbetter examined how Britain could become the California of Europe. But given its innovation-averse monopoly schooling system, the Golden State is the last place reform-minded Brits are turning for effective solutions.

 “Britain’s schools are in a mess,” according to two recent articles in the Economist (here and here) A team of Stanford University researchers reached the same conclusion about California’s monopoly system of assigned schooling this March, which they describe as afflicted by “regulationitis” and in desperate need of “fundamental reform not tinkering around the edges.” British reformers are therefore looking to “countries with more enlightened education systems.”  In Sweden and the Netherlands, parents have had the right to choose their children's schools, government-run or privately-run, using public education Kronas and Euros since 1917 and 1992, respectively.

The Economist explains, “Such freedoms are wildly popular: in the Netherlands 70% of children are educated in private schools at the taxpayers' expense; in Sweden 10% already are. In both countries state spending on education is lower per head than in Britain, and results are better. It doesn't take a genius IQ—just a little political courage—to draw the correct conclusion.”

Whether Sacramento has the requisite political courage to enact systemic education reform driven by parent “pro-ams” during the 2008 Year of Education Reform remains to be seen. But in London, political progressives have embraced such reform. Earlier this month parents, fed-up with low-quality local schools, set up their own with public funds in Lambeth, one of London’s poorest boroughs. Enrolling nearly 200 students, the Elmgreen School is Britain’s first government school established by parents. This could be the first step on the path to real reform for Britain.

Along with non-profit charitable organizations, businesses, and Churches, British parents are now allowed to use public education funds to establish their own schools when local public schools fail to get the job done. California should do likewise, and allow its culture of innovation to transform its ossified public schooling monopoly.