Posted on 03/26/2013 8:06:57 AM PDT by TurboZamboni
INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld the law creating the nation’s broadest school voucher program, clearing the way for a possible expansion.
In a 5-0 vote, the justices rejected claims that the law primarily benefited religious institutions that run private schools and accepted arguments that it gave families choice and allowed parents to determine where the money went.
The Indiana case has received national attention because the program has wide eligibility. Middle-class families are allowed to participate in Indiana, while in most states, such programs are limited to low-income families or those in failing schools.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
The vouchers will be for a fixed amount of money. Schools can charge more than the voucher, with the parents needing to kick in the difference. So high-priced private schools will not get any "inner city" voucher kids, but private schools with more modest tuition levels will be flooded with ferals.
Woot!
God save the children.
Gov. Robert Bentley Signs Alabama Accountability Act
The bill allows families with children zoned to failing schools to receive tax credits to help pay for attendance at private schools or other public schools. It authorizes donation-funded scholarships for students zoned to failing schools whose families meet income requirements. It allows local school systems to seek waivers from some state policies.
“The real question is why government is involved in education in the first place. Even conservatives aren’t asking that question.”
It is a shame, the presuppositions we accept any more. Like with Medi-Cal or Medi-Caid or Social Security, we are interested in getting rid of fraud and illegal alien benefits and waste, but, few talk about chucking the entire program.
I could see a legitimate argument for the state needing literate citizens who understand their citizenship rights and responsibilities.
Ideally I’d like to see a public library in any county of over so many people, and at that library “free” (tax payer funded) literacy, basic math, and civics courses. Not forced, but available at various times and days for all citizens of any age.
The argument for this would be civil and common defense, as illiterate people who can’t add are not capable of modern warfare, not much. Also, citizenship requires a basic knowledge of the laws of the land.
That’s how it would be if I were King. The current model of public schools gone, no compulsory education. But no.
Good. Privatize everything from the DOE down to one room schoolhouses.
In some states it is actually written into their Constitution....
This is to me in the business of change yet another crack in the dam that will soon fall in the Monopoly hiding as Public Education (really Indoctrination!)
My neighbors send their boy to this school in Indianapolis. Many signs in the neighborhood promoting the school. I am not sure if it is public or public supported.
http://www.paramountindy.org/
We have a program in our kids’ private Christian school, grades 7-12, where we raise funds for scholarships for underprivileged kids. Sure, those middle school kids come in sassy and underperform at first, but by their senior year they are transformed. They have real hope and real skills, and easily manage to get scholarships into good, primarily Christian, schools.
As for the kids who are hard cases and don’t fall in line, they get kicked out. It happens enough so that everyone knows it’s a real possibility. But they are a small minority of the scholarship kids.
the second private schools accept those dollars the leftists will force them to use the same currculum as publik skoolz
Do you feel the same way about Public Libraries?
My daughter-in-law teaches in a private school, she said that they were not too thrilled with the voucher program. It depended on if the state then would have a say in how you ran your school. She teaches in a catholic school.
I think tuition tax credits could be the answer.
No “state money” involved. (keeping your own money)
Of course, leftists believe your money all belongs to The State and you’re just fortunate they let you keep some.
Look for teachers’ unions and MSM to go totally apeshit in Indiana 5...4...3...2...1...
This may be good, but
Unfortunately Indiana has proven recently that it does not believe in the most basic protections in the constitution.
It depends on the character of the school. A school with a strong religious mission, as opposed to one with only the title of Christian will resist the temptation to let the money be the determining factor. But even a school with a more mercenary view will hestitate to offend its existing customers, who can, after all, chose to go elsewhere.
The reason why federal aide was allowed the colleges but not the schools was the specious distinction between a school and a college. Schools are for indoctrination, but colleges, not. But the GIs who went to college on the GI Bill often remarked how childish were the 21 years olds they found themselves in school with. High schools are for indoctrination only if they become no more than higher elementary schools, holding pens to keep boy and girls from growing up.
“I hope one of the arguments was the current public shool monopoly is failing to actually educate our children”
I think that this is what most people think of when the hear about vouchers.
Another argument that is rarely made and that will probably be a driving force towards moving states to a voucher system is cost.
If it costs a state an average of 10K per year to educate a student, a 5K voucher will net the state a 5K surplus.
If enough students leave the public system, there will be fewer teachers and administrators, fewer facilities, fewer buses, etc., which will lead to even more savings.
As states continue to struggle to meet their budget needs, the cost factor may end up being more important than the quality of education, which is a major talking point for many states but doesn’t seem to be a concern otherwise.
It's already being implemented! It's called Common Core and its descripton is filled with focus tested phrases that make it sound wonderful, but it's really set up to totally federalize education down to the lesson plan. It leaves room for no more than 15% input from the teacher.
All but 5 states have adopted it or are considering it through state legislatures where the elected officers know next to nothing about it. There are about 17 or 18 states that adopted it and are now trying to get rid of it.
It will even be enforced on charter schools and home schoolers. Bill Ayers (domestic terrorist and current education specialist) is involved in its design so you can readily figure what its purpose is...
Correct-a-mundo.
Parents pay for their own brood. No tax credits (those w/out kids should not be paying for the brood mares to begin), reduce the overall taxes and let the parents hire/fire/elect/whatever for their own.
Education should be primarily dealt with at the local level, with only essential oversight by the states such as requiring the essential history, math, sicence and English courses.
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