The Jeb Bush Nobody Knows - Part 11: How Jeb's Newest, 3rd Voucher Program Helps Low-Income Students

FAQS from www.floridachild.org ^ | Feb. 28, 2002 | summer

[summer]

Gov. Jeb Bush actively listens to a FL student.

The Jeb Bush Nobody Knows - Part 11:

How Jeb's Newest, 3rd Scholarship/Voucher Program Helps Low-Income Students

Written by summer - a former Dem, now an independent and a FL certified teacher

As you may already know from some of my previous FR posts, my first teaching position was in an inner-city, FL public school.
While filled with hope and enthusiasm when I began teaching, being in such a school broke my heart in several ways. First, I knew the majority of my students were reading 2-4 years below their grade level.

And, I had one student, "Cheri," a 10-year old girl who was reading far above her grade level. Cheri's academic success kept me awake at night as much as the other students' academic problems -- because there was only so much I could do, as a teacher, to keep her challenged in a classroom where she was obviously very much alone.

Although Cheri was black and low income like her classmates, none of them had said to me, as she did: (1) future plans included medical school, (2) becoming a doctor was her goal, and (3) what did I think of these medical schools she was researching?

What more could I do for Cheri? What more...

If I suggested placing her in the next grade level in this public school, she would be in a higher grade - but stuck in a classroom where the majority of students were still reading 2-4 years below grade level.

If I tried to refer her to a gifted program, well, there was none in this public school. Furthermore, all the inner-city elementary public schools nearby also lacked gifted programs.

Outside these inner-city schools, a gifted program in a public school might have been an option; and, this city had good public transportation -- but such transportation was a substantial added expense for Cheri's family.

Because of her family's low income, a private school was not an option.

A private school scholarship might be possible -- but to help her get one, she'd need to be tested for gifted. Her gifted testing score could then be used to provide justification for a private school scholarship.

However, to obtain a gifted test score for Cheri, I had to go through the current public school system.

The 'system' was not set up to serve students like Cheri. The school's attitude seemed to be:

We need Cheri in this school because: (a) her test scores are always high, and she brings up the school's average score. And (b) if she tests as gifted, the only result is frustration, since there is no public school nearby with a gifted program. Finally: (c) if she leaves, we lose money.

So - if she'll fail gifted testing, we'll set up testing. But you think if she may qualify as gifted, then, forget it.

I tried, but Cheri was never tested for gifted while I was her teacher, and I don't know if she ever was tested.

But, on Jan. 1, 2002, a new, 3rd scholarship/voucher program, known as "The Corporate Tax Credit Scholarship Program" and signed into law by Governor Jeb Bush, became effective.

In my opinion as a teacher, this is the first program to recognize the existence of students like Cheri, even though I believe there is at least one "Cheri" in every grade level at every inner-city public school.

Cheri has until March 31, 2002 to apply for this program for next year.

She does not need to be in an "F" rated, failing public school to qualify for this scholarship. Nor does she need to be tested for gifted. She qualifies by her family's income level.

Cheri's parents -- like parents of other FL students, including 18,000 in one FL school district - are now eligible for several options in this program.

They can obtain $500, for transportation costs, for Cheri to attend any public school. Perhaps they will choose a public school, farther from home, that has a gifted program. Or, a public school where there are many more students already at or above grade level, so that Cheri's not so alone.

Or, they can obtain a maximum of $3,500, for Cheri to attend a private school. This money covers the cost of tuition, books and transportation.

Like all students at certain private schools, Cheri would also have to pass any entrance exam such schools require of their students -- but I know she could pass, and with flying colors!

This new scholarship/voucher program is funded by corporate payments made to to state-approved organizations that administer these scholarships to the parents, and 100% of this corporate money goes to funding the student's scholarship.

In exchange for this corporate payment, the corporation receives a dollar for dollar tax reduction in corporate income tax, up to 75% of the taxes due to Tallahassee.

The first $5 million corporate contribution to FL's new "Corporate Credit Tax Scholarship Program" was recently made by the FL real estate developer,, WCI Communications.

Another $5 million contribution was then made by Florida Power and Light -- much to the chargrin of the Pinellas County Teachers Union President, who seriously suggested the school district "recoup" by shutting off the lights and power in the school district -- leaving students outside (or, I guess, in the dark).

The FL Legislature capped the total sum that can be donated to this scholarship/voucher program, by all FL corporations, at $50 million. So a chunk of corporate tax money continues to go to Tallahassee.

All in all, I believe this is a great program, and my belief is based in part on the fact that I really did have a student, in 4th grade, just as I described to you -- and I truly did go through a lot of frustration in an effort to help her.

The way I see it, some people seem to forget that the FL State Constitution requires FL to provide an "equal" education to every FL public school student.

Because this scholarship/voucher program enables Cheri, and other students, to choose either a better public school or a private school, I don't see this program as "draining money" from public schools. Certain public schools may well gain students.

Consequently, I think those who truly advocate for ALL students - including gifted students ignored by some public schools - should enthusiastically support Gov. Bush's newest scholarship/voucher program.

My former student, "Cheri," and other low-income, bright students like her, have long been at the head of their public school classes; yet, ironically, these students are often 'left behind' as well.


Gov. Jeb Bush's newest scholarship/voucher program is funded by
corporate tax credits. Here, he addresses a well-known FL tax-watch organization.

--------------------------------

For more information about these new, FL "Corporate Tax Credit Scholaship" vouchers -- also known as
"FloridaChild Scholarships" when the administrating organization is FloridaChild.org -- click here.

[summer]

Here's a nice shot:


Gov. Jeb Bush and a FL student work together on a project .

[summer]

Re your post #95 - Victoria, My pleasure. And, thank you so very much for posting on this thread! :)

[summer]

Re your post #92 -- Incremental measures like these are a great step in the right direction, and the bottom line is that many kids are going to get the help they need to meet their educational needs.

Truth Addict,

Thank you for your entire post #92 and your kind words to me.

I especially agree with what you said above -- and I think it is a very valid measure of this governor's leadership ability that he did not choose to scrap the whole system at once, though I understand why others would prefer that.

I believe his method of improving education -- offering many different solutions, and a wide variety of choice -- is the best way to go. He has not abandoned public schools, but has instead tried hard to improve them, while still making other changes to ensure all students have opportunity.

Thanks so much for taking the time to post. :)!

[summer]

Thanks for the ping, summer. I am in TX, but I ordered one of those free Jeb bumper stickers.... Silly me...when I first read it, though, my first thought was "free Jeb???? Why's he locked up???"

LOL! Yes, 'free Willy'! 'Free Jeb'! LOL....I'm glad you got a bumper sticker - you'll be the first one on your block in Texas to have one! :)

[summer]

Re your post #90 -- Thanks for the link, Larry. I read that thread. Interesting that they really don't have a whole lot to say about it. I tend to think there are many teachers besides me who had the experience I wrote of. And, while the teacher's union voice, against vouchers, is the loudest one, if you asked honest teachers what they thought, they too might tell you what I've told you here in this essay. :)

[Pistias]

In my view, this is too long to wait

Agreed. Too much young energy is wasted on general curriculum.

An old friend of mine got a Commodore 64 from his parents when he was eight or so years old and started programming. He had such a passion for it that he was making computer games (albeit simple ones) when he was a junior high kid. Nowadays he does programming of no little skill (so I'm told--I have no knowledge of programming outside of the little HTML I need here) and plans on owning his own software empire someday. More young people should be encouraged and able to develop their ripening abilites early in life.

[summer]

More young people should be encouraged and able to develop their ripening abilites early in life.

Pistias, A big BTTT on that thought! Thanks for sharing. :)

[summer]

KC, Thank you, so much, for your posts #93 and #94. I enjoyed reading every word you wrote. God bless. :)!

[summer]

katherineisgreat -- Here is one Baltimore public school defying the odds and doing great:

School Defies the Odds and Offers a Lesson [High poverty, minority schools: top performers]

[summer]

Hi, I thought you might enjoy reading a new essay I wrote. And, please bump this thread if you think others should see it too. Thanks! :)

[summer]

Hi, I thought you might enjoy reading this new essay I wrote. Also, if you think others should see it too, please bump this thread. Thanks! :)

[summer]

FYI. :)

[Lumberjack]

Nice job summer!

We need more positive School Choice articles like this in the mainstream media. Vouchers are a good place to start, because they'll starve the public school sector of "instant cash" through mandatory attendence. That leaves public schools with two choices; starve or improve their real quality as measured by parents. Nice to see Jeb is taking the initiative on this very valid issue, and nice to see you wrote such an enlightening and enjoyable piece on it.

Have you solicited any mainstream media with this article for publication? If not, you should.

[summer]

Hi, I thought you might enjoy reading this new essay I wrote. If you think others should see it, please do bump this thread. Thanks! :)

[summer]

Lumberjack, Thank you so much for your interest and kind words! I am so glad you enjoyed reading my article. And I agree with you -- there should be more articles in mainsteam media about this issue. I have not tried to send this out, but maybe someday I will! Thanks again for your support. I truly appreciate you sharing your thoughts here. :)!

[nicmarlo]

Thanks for the ping summer. Your essay is informative and touching.

I, too, have shared a bit of the same experience as you do. I dropped out of the teacher education program here in Colorado, partly because of the frustration you feel. Mostly because of the politics involved in teaching, which is pretty bad. I won't get into all of that, but I will share with you my similar experience while a "student teacher observer:"

I sat in a 5th grade class, two or three times a week, through a couple classes, reading and math. Wow! 5th grade level students who struggled with reading....I became assigned to testing each student in this teacher's class. I went in a separate room, one-on-one with a student. There were several students, extremely bright, reading at 9th grade or higher level. Most read around 4th to 6th grade level. However, many also read at 2nd and 3rd grade level. There was one girl I ended up working with, she was at 2nd grade level, tops. She had never been taught phonics, only whole language. She was Hispanic/American Indian background. The language she spoke at home was Spanish.

I at first tried to help her read 2nd or 3rd grade level books. She couldn't get through one sentence without stumbling over a word. When I asked her what the paragraph meant that she just read, she had no clue....it was too much of an effort for her to just figure out the words she was "reading." She couldn't pronounce "ch" properly, it was always pronounced "sh." She couldn't spell words. She couldn't figure out how "ph" was pronounced....the list goes on. I ended up scraping the reading and did phonics instruction for several weeks, with bits and pieces of reading mixed in. She resented this at first. I know she was feeling "dumb."

After several months of doing this with her, I noticed an improvement. I then began to see a spark in her eyes....she was "getting it." Then we started reading more and phonics instruction lessened.....she began to beam with pride, reading better. Her teacher noticed an improvement in all her other classes, too, because of her improvement in reading. I wish I could have spent more time, for a longer period, with her, but I couldn't.

One day I sat there with the teacher after the kids left for the day and asked her, how does she do it? How can she teach to kids in 5th grade who are learning at 2nd grade level to 9th grade level? How can she reach them and keep the higher level kids interested, the lower kids brought up to speed, and still keep the middle kids pace going? She said she can't, she can only do what she can...she has to teach at 5th grade level to the 5th grade level kids. She said if it weren't for parent helpers and student teachers, the task would be impossible.

My heart breaks to see so many kids not learning at the rate they need to learn....and for the teachers who struggle to teach but have this impossible task.

[summer]

One day I sat there with the teacher after the kids left for the day and asked her, how does she do it? How can she teach to kids in 5th grade who are learning at 2nd grade level to 9th grade level? How can she reach them and keep the higher level kids interested, the lower kids brought up to speed, and still keep the middle kids pace going? She said she can't, she can only do what she can...she has to teach at 5th grade level to the 5th grade level kids. She said if it weren't for parent helpers and student teachers, the task would be impossible.

My heart breaks to see so many kids not learning at the rate they need to learn....and for the teachers who struggle to teach but have this impossible task.

Hello nicmarlo,

Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experiences here on this thread. I deeply appreciate your entire post.

You have an insight not all people have about the difficulty of teaching, and the real task of all teachers. It is truly one of the most challenging jobs to do well -- and to do well all the time, with each student.

Thanks again for writing. I know I will be re-reading your post. :)

[summer]

Lumberjack, BTW -- Here is a recent article I posted, from mainstream media, in support of vouchers:

Why Blacks Support Vouchers [NYT Guest Op-Ed, by black professor supporting vouchers]

[JD86]

Excellent Job, JEB!

[summer]

jallisco, Thanks again for your kinds words in your freepmail to me.

I must admit I eventually find obvious mistakes in my editorials! For example, in the following sentence, where I originally used the word "much" three times -- I've now revised my writing, in bold:

And, I had one student, "Cheri," a 10-year old girl who was reading far above her grade level. Cheri's academic success kept me awake at night as often as the other students' academic problems -- because there was a limit as to what I could do, as a teacher, to keep her challenged in a classroom where she was obviously very much alone.

In short, I'm still looking forward to the day I post a perfect essay the FIRST time!!! :)