Posted on 01/16/2009 6:59:48 PM PST by Coleus
New Jersey is in deep financial trouble, and government estimates keep get ting worse. The most recent budget deficit prediction tripled the last one, concluding that the state might be $1.2 billion in the hole.
The bad news doesn't end there. The economic slowdown is prompting many families who can no longer afford both taxes and private school tuition to move their children into public schools. Catholic elementary schools in the Diocese of Camden, for instance, have lost almost 1,000 students, about 10 percent of their enrollment from last year. And those declining enrollment figures came before the worst of the recession hit.
The accelerating closure of private schools in urban areas will only add to the pressure. Public schools will suddenly need to spend more -- even as tax revenues drop. With this kind of budget problem, lawmakers need to take a look at an important benefit of programs that make it easier for families to choose private schools: School choice means huge savings for state and local governments.
New Jersey spends more than $18,500 a year on every student when you count all local school taxes and expenses like pension and health benefits. That figure doesn't even include huge sums spent on construction. A 1 percent drop in private school enrollment will put New Jersey governments on the hook for about $55 million a year; a 10 percent swing will require $550 million more in school spend ing. In contrast, the national me dian private school tuition is just over $4,000 and a little more than $5,000 when it's adjusted for New Jersey's higher income levels.
(Excerpt) Read more at nj.com ...
So, does this mean that NJ is going to allow school vouchers?
So, does this mean that NJ is going to allow school vouchers? >>>
no way, that “editorial” was written by the Cato Organization, a libertarian think tank.
Thank You. I did not catch that.
Something is going to have to give with the current deflation crash. I just don’t think the “powers that be” are going to get out of the way that easily. But, their could be hope in the near future. Say, three or so years.
“......to move their children into public schools.”
Big mistake in todays world.
Could the schools do it as a community without the buildings, in peoples homes say? That could reduce costs while still giving kids a firm foundation in Christ and Church.
This is a really nutty editorial. The public schools could just increase class sizes. Except the teacher’s unions would moan about having too much homework to grade. Japanese class sizes are about 40 to 50, and yet their students get higher math scores than ours.
btrl
My grandduaghter (Grade 8) has 6 teachers and they have to move from room to room.
Go back to the old way!! It worked!! Everyone graduated and went on.
School is about learning "how to learn".
I dare say that NO ONE has ever sat down to a job...and was left on their own on the first day with absolutely no input. They had to LEARN again...to work within a system.
They won’t allow sschool choice in NJ.
It is another REASON to TAX MORE and deplete you of more money and have your kids turn into imbeciles. They want your kids DUMBED DOWN and YOU without money. They will prey on you to pay MORE in taxes for the kiddies! It works every time!
” A 1 percent drop in private school enrollment will put New Jersey governments on the hook for about $55 million a year;
a 10 percent swing will require $550 million more in school spend ing.
In CONTRAST, the national median private school tuition is just over $4,000 and a little more than $5,000 when it's adjusted for New Jersey's higher income levels. “
NJ spends 18,500 on a public school kid. If LIBERALS had any sense with our NJ budget hemorrhaging they would automatically allow for kids in private school to STAY THERE and get a tax credit but LIBERALS don't want you to have a better education for your kids nor to have YOU keep more of your own money.
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