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.
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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.