Parents of 106 children notify DOE of intent to use vouchers [FL students can thank Jeb ]

AP ^ | June 22, 2002 | AP

[summer]

Parents of 106 children notify DOE of intent to use vouchers

Saturday, June 22, 2002

Associated Press

TALLAHASSEE - The parents of 106 children have notified the state of their intentions to use vouchers to go to private schools this fall, an official said Friday.

Some 8,900 students attend 10 voucher-eligible schools in four counties. Their parents have until July 1 to notify the state Department of Education that they plan to use a voucher.

Students at those schools are eligible for vouchers because the schools earned their second failing grade in four years earlier this month.

Five of the schools are in Miami-Dade County, three in Palm Beach County and one each in Orange and Escambia counties.

Forty of the 106 children now attend a failing public school in Orange County, 31 in Miami-Dade, 34 in Palm Beach and one in Escambia.

In 1999, two Pensacola elementary schools became the first and, until last week, only schools to be eligible for vouchers. Fifty-eight of their students accepted private schools vouchers, and 47 of them continue to attend a private school on a voucher.

Vouchers are equal to the amount of money that would be spent on the student in public school or the cost of tuition at the private school, whichever is less. The average annual cost of teaching a student in Florida is $5,200, but that varies widely depending on the district.

The toll-free number set up by the state is 1-800-447-1636. It will be answered from 8 a.m. through 8 p.m. EDT Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. through 5 p.m. EDT on Saturday.

[goodieD]

have you noticed an improvement in the schools as a result of this? or was it just too late at this point? Not trying to be confrontational here, just seeking info.

[summer]

Just wanted to elaborate on my reply #1 - some of these "F" schools did receive a "D" or better after their initial "F" grade, but, these schools are now back to an "F."

In other words, these schools may or may not have had two "F" grades in a row; but, they did receive two "F" grades in each of two years, whenever those years occurred. And, this is why the vouchers kick in, because the school is not stadily improving nor maintaining its improvement -- it is now failing again.

[summer]

Not trying to be confrontational here, just seeking info.

No problem at all.

I have noticed improvement in the schools in FL.

I can cite for you several examples. Here's the first that comes to my mind: the inner city school where I once taught (and then decided to leave) was an "F" school. It then became a "D" school, but this year, it earned a "B." This school has not yet been profiled in the newspapers but other schools like it have been. I know firsthand that in order for the school where I taught to have changed this much, there had to have been enormous changes and a great deal of effort on the part of everyone, teachers, parents and students. At the time I was there, all these changes from the state were just taking place and throwing these schools into a tizzy, because when Gov Bush took office and focused on schools, it was akin to lightening striking.

But, having spent as much time in schools as I have, I can also tell you there are legitimate gripes of parents out there. And, even in an "A" school it is possible to get a teacher who is not doing as good of a job as another teacher might be doing. This happens as well.

I have posted several articles about some of the schools in FL that have improved, and I will post another such article tonight and flag you. :)

[summer]

stadily = steadily

[summer]

In case I do not have time to post another article tonight, here is a recent article I've already posted just to give you another example of a FL public school that has improved:

Passion for words buoys students
[In Jeb's FL, another low income "D" school is moving up]

[summer]

Here's another one:

Gov goes to school catering to migrant families
[Thanks, Jeb: "D" school's grade is now an "A"]

[summer]

In short, many FL schools are really trying hard to raise student achievement:

Students, teachers gaining confidence about FCATs
[FL testing under Jeb's leadership: Rising scores]

[not-alone]

My son went to a charter school last year and I heard some of the same reasons for students leaving. Many parents won't apply for vouchers for these same reasons. In defense of some of the teachers, they often get little parents support at these failing schools.I will be honest and plead quilty to not giving much time to the school last year. I am a widow with one child, it must be hard for other single parents with children in different schools.

[summer]

In defense of some of the teachers, they often get little parents support at these failing schools. I will be honest and plead quilty to not giving much time to the school last year. I am a widow with one child, it must be hard for other single parents with children in different schools.

That is very true, about the lack of parental involvement at some of these failing schools.

But, even as a single parent at home, if you take the time to check your own child's homework, listen to your child read, engage your child in conversation about content matter he or she is learning in school to help the child review, then, you will actually be doing much more than many parents have done in terms of being involved in their child's education.

Thanks for your very candid post here, non-alone.

[summer]

non-alone = NOT-alone! :)

[summer]

FYI. :)

[summer]

From my post #1:

through this essay: = throughout this essay:

[MeekOneGOP]

Bush bump !

[goodieD]

Thanks for the thorough answers to my questions. My idea of good schools are pretty basic. The kids learn the basics, and they don't come out indoctrinated in the leftist mantra.

[davidosborne]

Florida leading the way to Education REFORM in America.. I predict SUCCESS for the voucher program in Florida... and hopefully we will see other States across America follow suit... The public education system is in desperate need of competition..

Passing it on..

[MissAmericanPie]

A state can do this? Without Federal approval? I had no idea, I think what Jeb is doing in Florida is great. I just don't know how he's getting away with it.

[Reagan Man]

Thumbs up for vouchers and REAL education reform in America.

Let's get all accountablilty and full responsibility back to the parents, at the local community level. The feds have no business making decisions on the education of America's children. That right belongs solely to the parents/families /guardians.

[davidosborne]

[Betty Jane]

Yes, Florida is doing great things, thanks to Jeb. I like the special ed. vouchers. I think the teacher's union got exactly what they deserve. With some ungodly number of "handicapped" kids (250,000 or more) being given a chance to choose their school, it will have to improve their chances of success.

The unions fail to teach kids to read, label them special ed., then collect more money based on that failure. What a racket.

In my charter school, we take kids with I.E.P.'s (individual education plans, Colorado's term for special ed). We have gotten about half of them off the I.E.P.'s after their first year with us. We are the only school in our district to ever get a kid off an I.E.P. Many of them can't read anywhere near grade level. Some have come to us in 5th, 6th, and 7th grade illiterate. They have just been pushed through. No wonder they have been behavior problems. Anyway, when they come to us, they are told if they do all their work, they will be reading by the end of the year. And they are.

Slapping a label on a kid, then ignoring his education should be a crime. Unfortunately, this is what many public schools do everyday. Their philosophy is if the kid didn't learn, there must be something wrong with him.

Our approach is if the kid didn't learn, the teacher didn't teach. This applies to every kid in every class. If the kid is not doing his work, we find a solution before he fails. It may be to have him have his parents sign every homework assignment until he is back on task, it may be moving him to a class that isn't moving as fast until he is prepared. It may be having him check in with the principal every morning to show he has all his material. It may just be having some lessons in being organized. We figure out what the kids problem is and finding a solution that will work.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Jeb fights for the kids. No honest person can fault his efforts to improve education in Florida. He went up against the NEA and DNC and showed the nation it is possible to change our schools for the better.

A Wimauma Elementary school student
gives Governor Bush a hug.