Nice ideas - it’s good you’ve given it some thought.
So what’s step 1?
Push for very **small** voucher or tax credit programs aimed at very narrow and highly defined groups such as those in failing schools or the disabled. Then gradually broaden the definition of “failing school” or “disabled” and begin to increase the number of vouchers and charters.
Why are **small** programs necessary? Well...Look what happened in Utah. The legislature passed a sweeping voucher bill that covered all children. The NEA went nuts and managed to have a statewide referendum and had the bill repealed. ( I think the residents of that state were a little freaked by so much rapid change and also feared it would mean higher taxes.)
So...What did Utah do? It passed a very small voucher program that was not well funded aimed at the “disabled”. Of course ( wink, wink) “disabled” included reading disabilities ( nearly half the kids in the state, for whom there was not enough voucher money). Since the voucher program was poorly funded only a limited number of kids got the voucher. Utah also allowed a limited number of charters.
As a result, parents saw that some kids on their block were getting vouchers and going to great private schools and charters and their kids weren't. Now the pressure is on to **increase** the voucher funding and the number of charters. Well!...Who would’a guessed that would happen? ( wink wink) ;-)
The next step is to allow teachers to turn their government school into charters. This has happened in Los Angeles with the Green Dot charters.
Gradually, year by year, increase the amount of vouchers, tax credits, and charters.
When most children are attending private voucher schools and charters, then make all government schools charters. Then make the charters voucher schools.
At this point, it is time to gradually expect parents to take on more and more responsibility for paying for their **own** child's tuition with vouchers and tax credits for the poorest only.
In an ideal world, all education would be privately paid for by the parents and charity would pay for the poorest.
Do I think this is possible? Yep! I do!
One more thing: All sports, music, theater, and art programs should **gradually** ( little by little so as not to scare the public) be turned over to the counties departments of recreation. A lot of “rah rah” support is generated for the local school because of the sports and arts programs. The umbilical tying these programs to the government schools needs to be **CUT**!