With Vouchers, States Shift Aid for Schools to Families

[Judi Lynn]

With Vouchers, States Shift Aid for Schools to Families
By FERNANDA SANTOS and MOTOKO RICH
Published: March 27, 2013

PHOENIX — A growing number of lawmakers across the country are taking steps to redefine public education, shifting the debate from the classroom to the pocketbook. Instead of simply financing a traditional system of neighborhood schools, legislators and some governors are headed toward funneling public money directly to families, who would be free to choose the kind of schooling they believe is best for their children, be it public, charter, private, religious, online or at home.

On Tuesday, after a legal fight, the Indiana Supreme Court upheld the state’s voucher program as constitutional. This month, Gov. Robert Bentley of Alabama signed tax-credit legislation so that families can take their children out of failing public schools and enroll them in private schools, or at least in better-performing public schools.

In Arizona, which already has a tax-credit scholarship program, the Legislature has broadened eligibility for education savings accounts. And in New Jersey, Gov. Chris Christie, in an effort to circumvent a Legislature that has repeatedly defeated voucher bills, has inserted $2 million into his budget so low-income children can obtain private school vouchers.

Proponents say tax-credit and voucher programs offer families a way to escape failing public schools. But critics warn that by drawing money away from public schools, such programs weaken a system left vulnerable after years of crippling state budget cuts — while showing little evidence that students actually benefit.

More:
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/28/education/states-shifting-aid-for-schools-to-the-families.html?_r=0

[upaloopa]

1. They are just taking tax money and giving it to for profit

or parochial schools,

[Macoy51]

3. How Dare They!

How dare they use my tax money to allow poor children to attend private schools. Only the very rich should be allowed the right to choose thier school.


Macoy

[Myrina]

4. These 'parochial' for profit schools consistently register failing 'grades' ...

.... they are not meeting even the most basic standards of education, and yet are getting the money that should be going into the public school system to provide ALL children an EQUAL education.

You wanna flush your own money down the toilet for one of these schools, fine but don't waste my tax money too.

[upaloopa]

5. That money should go to improve public education.

More poor children will be cheated out of a good education because public schools have to operate on less and less. Also private schools force out children with special needs leaving them to go back to the underfunded public education. All you are doing is creating more revenue for private institutions not giving poor kids better education.

[Doctor_J]

2. Public schools will be completely gone by the time Obama leaves office

An anti-public school Dem president was the last link in the chain needed to take our tax money and give it to any huckster or religious fanatic who claims to believe in "education reform"

I wonder if the DINO In Chief has enough juice to completely dismantle, er, privatize, er, strengthen SS and Medicare in the time he has left.