Posted on 06/05/2015 12:10:38 PM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
Racine — A few short months ago, the newest proposed expansion site for HOPE Christian Schools, a rapidly expanding voucher- and charter-school network based in Milwaukee, was on the ropes.
Gov. Scott Walker's state budget introduced in February proposed an expansion of the statewide voucher school program, but the per-pupil payments from taxpayers to new schools, such as the planned HOPE Via on Racine's north side, would have dropped from current levels.
"We could have maybe made it a year or two, but no more," said Andrew Neumann, the head of the parent nonprofit that runs HOPE.
Today, that budget has been amended by Republican lawmakers friendly to the idea of allowing more taxpayer funds to flow to private, religious schools that promise underprivileged students a better future. The taxpayer payments will remain at current levels if the amended budget passes — and HOPE Via will open in the fall with 125 to 160 students, eventually growing to 500 students in kindergarten through eighth grade.
"We had to fight to make this happen in Racine," said Sen. Van Waanggard (R-Racine), who joined Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester) for a ceremonial groundbreaking Friday at the school site, 3502 Douglas Ave.
The situation underscores just how quickly the education landscape is changing in Wisconsin. And how much power Republicans have at the moment to clear the way for causes they believe in.
(Excerpt) Read more at jsonline.com ...
This sounds like taxpayers paying for an official republican state religious education?
Thanks Cincinatus' Wife.
Every student takes a voucher; let a thousand flowers bloom.
As opposed to official Democrat state atheistic education?"Public" schools are - as Milton Friedman so aptly pointed out - actually government schools. As government-run cultural institutions, they have an inherent tendency to make the government into a god.
Voucher aid to religious school extended. (HOPE in Racine)
FReep Mail me if you want on, or off, this Wisconsin interest ping list.
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