Vouchers and Government Control

LewRockwell ^ | July 6, 2002 | Vouchers and Government Control

[IdeashaveConsequences]

It is not federal money going directly to the college with strings attached.

Read the story of Hillsdale College if you want an eye opener.

[IdeashaveConsequences]

no required student testing, no mandated curriculum, no certified teachers required, etc.

Even without vouchers, I think you will find that "private" schools have many many regulations on them by governments.

[summer]

No. Not in FL. I am going to have to do a thread, because this is about the 3rd thread I have been on saying the same thing over and over. I am not yelling at you, BTW, but I am really tired of people here inventing laws for FL that do not actually exist in FL.

[summer]

FYI -- The info below is from the FL Dept of Education, and can be found by clicking HERE.

"General Requirements for Non-Public Schools

Legislative intent not to regulate, control, approve or accredit non-public educational institutions, churches, their ministries, religious instruction, freedoms or rites, is explicit. The Department of Education does not have jurisdiction and there are very few references to private schools in Florida law. The owners of private elementary and secondary schools in Florida are solely responsible for all aspects of their educational programs....."

[IdeashaveConsequences]

Please ping me to the thread so I can live and learn. I have never heard of a state which doesn't require certain things to happen at all schools. Including home schools. I'll take your word for it til then.

[summer]

See post #24, and I will ping you to a future thread on this. There is so much misinformation that goes out on these threads, and FR really has a much higher quality of info than what I have read on this particular topic. (And, my comment here has nothing to do with varying opinions expressed.)

[Austin Willard Wright]

The key danger is federal funding of vouchers. As long as any voucher program is kept at the state and local level, the danger of governmental control is minimized somewhat.

[capecodder]

From the Grove City site:

Benefits of Independence

Grove City College teaches and advocates free market economic theory. By putting that theory into practice, the College maintains competitively low charges and a superior academic program. Grove City College operates on a balanced budget, refuses federal aid and remains virtually debt-free, thereby proving that higher education can operate responsibly by providing an affordable, first-rate education without government funding or mandates. Demonstrating its commitment to freedom, Grove City challenged federal regulation during the 1980s. The College successfully argued its landmark case, Grove City College v. T.H. Bell, Secretary of the Department of Education, before the United States Supreme Court. Grove City exemplifies the American ideals of individual liberty and responsibility. In other words, Grove City College practices what it teaches.

In 2001-2002, charges for all academic programs (notebook computer/printer and room & board included) will remain under $13,000. Source: http://www.gcc.edu/aboutgcc/benefits.htm

[IdeashaveConsequences]

I guess you should feel lucky to be in Florida, at least in this regard. I hate to be negative, but I'm guessing it's only a matter of time before the strings become serious.

[Lizavetta]

As long as the money goes to the parents and not the schools directly, I don't see this happening. The reason there are so many controls and mandates on public schools is because the funds go directly to the school districts.

"Money" won't go to anyone - it will be a piece of paper or a coupon of some kind that the school can redeem from the government.....provided they meet the government's "accredited private school" definition, which is where the controls will come in. No one's going to give anyone actual cash - if they did, you'd be right.

[summer]

Thanks for taking a look at that info, LiberT. (BTW, very clever screen name you've got there!)

Also, as I mentioned on another thread: when you consider the fact a private school student in FL has to meet NO state requirements, then, it is actually true that a FL homeschooler has more state requirements to meet than a private school student (since the private school student must meet ZERO state requirements).

Finally - I don't know if the situation will change in FL. Time will tell....

[LarryLied]

The arguement that vouchers will lead to government control, or mandates, of private schools is used by the left as a scare tactic

Liberals are using that line a lot now on TV. Vouchers are very controversial, many conservatives fear government control of private schools...yadda...yadda...yadda.

They will do or say anything to stop vouchers.

[summer]

You may be right - that may be the key. (And, who is in power, because I believe FL Dem gov candidates have said flat out they would demand the private schools to meet the state requirments.)

[summer]

requirments.) = requirements.)

[IdeashaveConsequences]

Vouchers are very controversial, many conservatives fear government control of private schools...yadda...yadda...yadda.

I'm not a liberal and I'm concerned about further government control of private schools.

[capecodder]

Summer, students with Florida vouchers DO take the assessment.

The Florida Opportunities Scholarship page contains the following information:

https://www.opportunityschools.org/Info/OSP/responsibilities.asp

Scroll down to: Public School Responsibilities:

State Assessment Local school districts must also provide locations and times for all students in the district participating in the Opportunity Scholarship Program to take all statewide assessment tests.

[capecodder]

Summer, #36 was meant to be addressed to you.

[Free the USA]

Index Bump and fyi

[capecodder]

A visit to the Frequently Asked Questions page, look at question #5:

What obligations do I have as a parent of a student eligible for an Opportunity Scholarship?

Answer: (among other things) Parents or guardians must ensure that their child takes all required state assessments.

Source: https://www.opportunityschools.org/Shared/faqs.asp?prgmtype=1

[summer]

From that site:

5) Q: What obligations do I have as a parent of a student eligible for an Opportunity Scholarship?

A: Parents or guardians must ensure that their child takes all required state assessments and must comply fully with the private school's parental involvement requirements, unless excused for absence or good cause. A student who chooses to use an Opportunity Scholarship to attend a participating private school must:

Remain in attendance throughout the school year, unless excused for illness or good cause

Comply fully with the school's code of conduct

Notify the Department of Education and the local school district if the decision is made to return to a public school or to transfer to another private school.

And, no state assessment is currently "required." I know that kids are not taking these tests -- that's why it became an issue, with the teachers union complaining there was no "accountability." In the eyes of the teachers union, the parents of private school students do not count as the ones providing the accountability.

Since this question keeps coming up over and over on all these voucher threads, I will try to find more definitive info and get back to you.