School Choice - It's Time
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57Brave
Well-known member
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2022/06/02/opinion/focus-group-racism-history-school.html
We convened this focus group of parents of high school students to discuss how they think American history and values should be taught in schools today, how issues like race and sexuality should be explored and how parts of our history — including the founding fathers, slavery, the U.S. internment of Japanese Americans during World War II, the gay rights movement — should or should not be discussed in-depth. Notably, all 11 Republicans, Democrats and independents believed that the good and the bad should be taught; one Republican said that schools should teach the pros and cons about Donald Trump’s presidency, regardless of anyone’s feelings about him
We convened this focus group of parents of high school students to discuss how they think American history and values should be taught in schools today, how issues like race and sexuality should be explored and how parts of our history — including the founding fathers, slavery, the U.S. internment of Japanese Americans during World War II, the gay rights movement — should or should not be discussed in-depth. Notably, all 11 Republicans, Democrats and independents believed that the good and the bad should be taught; one Republican said that schools should teach the pros and cons about Donald Trump’s presidency, regardless of anyone’s feelings about him
Jaw
It's OVER 5,000!
I wasn't able to view that article, but I would be surprised by anyone who answered no to any of that. If they were trying to address the CRT curriculum debate, they were well off subject with those questions.
Did they ask the parents what they thought of labelling some groups oppressed and others oppressors? Did they ask about adjusting grades based on race? Did they ask about cancelling advanced or gifted courses for the sake of racial equity?
Did they ask the parents what they thought of labelling some groups oppressed and others oppressors? Did they ask about adjusting grades based on race? Did they ask about cancelling advanced or gifted courses for the sake of racial equity?
acesfull86
Well-known member
https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2022-06-02/declining-school-enrollment-signals-challenge-for-us-public-education?srnd=opinion
Since 2020, Congress has sent an additional $190 billion to schools, in part to help them reopen safely and stave off layoffs. But in many districts, union leaders resisted a return to in-classroom instruction long after it was clear that classrooms were safe. And by and large, remote instruction was a disaster. By one analysis, the first year of the pandemic left students an average of five months behind in math and four months behind in reading, with much larger gaps for low-income schools.
It’s abundantly clear that money was far from the biggest challenge facing public schools. The U.S. spends more per pupil on public education than virtually any other country, and many districts have struggled to spend all the federal funds they’ve received. Others have splurged on sports.
Now, after students have fled public schools in record numbers, states are paying more to educate fewer children. That might have been acceptable if students were showing great improvement. Instead, we are paying more for failure.
Meanwhile, enrollment at public charter schools has been moving in the opposite direction, thanks to their success, even as their federal funding has not risen in the last four years. From 2020 to 2021, nearly 240,000 new students enrolled in charter schools, a 7% increase year over year. Many charter schools around the country have long waitlists, and no wonder. In states and cities with strong accountability laws, charters have a proven academic track record of outperforming district schools. One recent nationwide analysis found that districts with a higher share of charters yield higher reading and math scores as well as higher graduation rates on average. Other research has found that the benefits are especially pronounced for Black, Latino and low-income students.
Charter schools educate 7% of all public-school students, yet they receive less than 1% of total federal spending on K-12 education. As more parents opt out of traditional district schools, that imbalance should be corrected, as charters struggle to afford the teachers they need to serve their growing student populations, often in low-income communities.
The idea that we would allow public charter-school students from disadvantaged backgrounds to be deprived of great teachers so that we can staff schools with declining enrollments as though they were full makes no sense whatsoever — until factoring in politics. And then it makes perfect sense, because so many elected officials are beholden to union leaders who oppose charters.
Recently, union influence over the federal Department of Education led to an outrageous proposal to erect new barriers to funding charter schools. Instead of making it easier for educators to open more charters to meet parental demand, the DOE proposed to do the opposite.
After a bipartisan backlash, there are signs that the department may reconsider the proposal. The White House should insist on it — and go further, by treating public charter-school students as equals in terms of funding and insisting that traditional district schools embrace the accountability standards that have made charters so popular with parents.
---------
^ There's a (D) I agree with. Shame he was run out of the 2020 mix for the sin of being too wealthy.
Since 2020, Congress has sent an additional $190 billion to schools, in part to help them reopen safely and stave off layoffs. But in many districts, union leaders resisted a return to in-classroom instruction long after it was clear that classrooms were safe. And by and large, remote instruction was a disaster. By one analysis, the first year of the pandemic left students an average of five months behind in math and four months behind in reading, with much larger gaps for low-income schools.
It’s abundantly clear that money was far from the biggest challenge facing public schools. The U.S. spends more per pupil on public education than virtually any other country, and many districts have struggled to spend all the federal funds they’ve received. Others have splurged on sports.
Now, after students have fled public schools in record numbers, states are paying more to educate fewer children. That might have been acceptable if students were showing great improvement. Instead, we are paying more for failure.
Meanwhile, enrollment at public charter schools has been moving in the opposite direction, thanks to their success, even as their federal funding has not risen in the last four years. From 2020 to 2021, nearly 240,000 new students enrolled in charter schools, a 7% increase year over year. Many charter schools around the country have long waitlists, and no wonder. In states and cities with strong accountability laws, charters have a proven academic track record of outperforming district schools. One recent nationwide analysis found that districts with a higher share of charters yield higher reading and math scores as well as higher graduation rates on average. Other research has found that the benefits are especially pronounced for Black, Latino and low-income students.
Charter schools educate 7% of all public-school students, yet they receive less than 1% of total federal spending on K-12 education. As more parents opt out of traditional district schools, that imbalance should be corrected, as charters struggle to afford the teachers they need to serve their growing student populations, often in low-income communities.
The idea that we would allow public charter-school students from disadvantaged backgrounds to be deprived of great teachers so that we can staff schools with declining enrollments as though they were full makes no sense whatsoever — until factoring in politics. And then it makes perfect sense, because so many elected officials are beholden to union leaders who oppose charters.
Recently, union influence over the federal Department of Education led to an outrageous proposal to erect new barriers to funding charter schools. Instead of making it easier for educators to open more charters to meet parental demand, the DOE proposed to do the opposite.
After a bipartisan backlash, there are signs that the department may reconsider the proposal. The White House should insist on it — and go further, by treating public charter-school students as equals in terms of funding and insisting that traditional district schools embrace the accountability standards that have made charters so popular with parents.
---------
^ There's a (D) I agree with. Shame he was run out of the 2020 mix for the sin of being too wealthy.
acesfull86
Well-known member
https://reason.com/2022/06/20/school-choice-is-a-smart-political-move/
Fans of educational freedom in Iowa are doing a victory lap after school choice advocates cleaned up in GOP primaries. The results are a win for those who want families to decide where and how their children learn, and also point to a positive strategy in an otherwise toxic political environment. Amid a storm of stupid culture-war memes and finger-pointing, proposals for charter schools, homeschool freedom, education savings accounts, and vouchers are upbeat and attractive alternatives.
…
The governor gambled on supporting challengers to her own party's sitting legislators after they killed her proposal to let education money follow up to 10,000 Iowa students to the schools of their choice instead of subsidizing government institutions without regard for family preferences.
"Four challengers she endorsed won their primaries, including a challenger to the chairman of the House education committee who fought her bill," The Wall Street Journal editorial board noted. "Other school-choice candidates running for open seats also won, several with Ms. Reynolds's endorsement. Eight House candidates backed by the American Federation for Children Action Fund, which supports school-choice candidates, won their races. A ninth race, for a Senate seat, is headed to a recount."
Arizona is another hopeful venue for school choice proposals.
"I just introduced legislation to provide every Arizona child the ability to go to the school of their family's choice," State Rep. Ben Toma (R–Peoria), the House majority leader, announced on June 14.
Like the Iowa proposal, Arizona's HB 2853 would dedicate money to educating students where they choose rather than just funneling it to government schools. The bill has 26 co-sponsors.
"HB 2853 expands eligibility for the Arizona Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) program to every family in the state," according to the Phoenix-based Goldwater Institute. "Families who participate would receive over $6,500 per year per child for private school, homeschooling, 'learning pods,' tutoring, or any other kinds of educational service that would best fit their students' needs outside the traditional public school system."
…
Smart Democrats won't let this remain a partisan issue; Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) (recently interviewed by Reason) is among the too-rare members of his party who supports choice and defends the independence of charter schools against federal intrusion. That's wise because interest in exiting chaotic public schools isn't going away.
Polls find that between two-thirds and three-quarters of respondents consistently support giving "parents the right to use the tax dollars designated for their child's education to send their child to the public or private school which best serves their needs." As of May 2022, 72 percent of school parents favor vouchers, 76 percent support education savings accounts, and 71 percent favor charters, according to surveys by Morning Consult for EdChoice. Support for choice has been strong for years but combined with escalating curriculum wars and public-school failures during the pandemic, that created a welcoming environment for choice proposals even before Youngkin and McAuliffe duked it out.
"All told, seven states created new programs this year, while 11 more expanded existing options," Education Next's Alan Greenblatt noted last August. He scored wins across the country for education savings accounts, tax-credit programs, and scholarships.
…
Imagine resolving fights over school policy and curricula by enrolling your children in the schools that share your values while your neighbors make different choices of their own!
American politics are stupid right now, largely consumed by silly issues that represent a dozen different ways to scream "I hate your tribe!" School choice is a smart issue that can win with voters while lowering the pressure on social tensions that threaten to tear the country apart. With educational freedom at stake, these midterm elections have the potential to defy the odds and actually be constructive.
Fans of educational freedom in Iowa are doing a victory lap after school choice advocates cleaned up in GOP primaries. The results are a win for those who want families to decide where and how their children learn, and also point to a positive strategy in an otherwise toxic political environment. Amid a storm of stupid culture-war memes and finger-pointing, proposals for charter schools, homeschool freedom, education savings accounts, and vouchers are upbeat and attractive alternatives.
…
The governor gambled on supporting challengers to her own party's sitting legislators after they killed her proposal to let education money follow up to 10,000 Iowa students to the schools of their choice instead of subsidizing government institutions without regard for family preferences.
"Four challengers she endorsed won their primaries, including a challenger to the chairman of the House education committee who fought her bill," The Wall Street Journal editorial board noted. "Other school-choice candidates running for open seats also won, several with Ms. Reynolds's endorsement. Eight House candidates backed by the American Federation for Children Action Fund, which supports school-choice candidates, won their races. A ninth race, for a Senate seat, is headed to a recount."
Arizona is another hopeful venue for school choice proposals.
"I just introduced legislation to provide every Arizona child the ability to go to the school of their family's choice," State Rep. Ben Toma (R–Peoria), the House majority leader, announced on June 14.
Like the Iowa proposal, Arizona's HB 2853 would dedicate money to educating students where they choose rather than just funneling it to government schools. The bill has 26 co-sponsors.
"HB 2853 expands eligibility for the Arizona Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) program to every family in the state," according to the Phoenix-based Goldwater Institute. "Families who participate would receive over $6,500 per year per child for private school, homeschooling, 'learning pods,' tutoring, or any other kinds of educational service that would best fit their students' needs outside the traditional public school system."
…
Smart Democrats won't let this remain a partisan issue; Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) (recently interviewed by Reason) is among the too-rare members of his party who supports choice and defends the independence of charter schools against federal intrusion. That's wise because interest in exiting chaotic public schools isn't going away.
Polls find that between two-thirds and three-quarters of respondents consistently support giving "parents the right to use the tax dollars designated for their child's education to send their child to the public or private school which best serves their needs." As of May 2022, 72 percent of school parents favor vouchers, 76 percent support education savings accounts, and 71 percent favor charters, according to surveys by Morning Consult for EdChoice. Support for choice has been strong for years but combined with escalating curriculum wars and public-school failures during the pandemic, that created a welcoming environment for choice proposals even before Youngkin and McAuliffe duked it out.
"All told, seven states created new programs this year, while 11 more expanded existing options," Education Next's Alan Greenblatt noted last August. He scored wins across the country for education savings accounts, tax-credit programs, and scholarships.
…
Imagine resolving fights over school policy and curricula by enrolling your children in the schools that share your values while your neighbors make different choices of their own!
American politics are stupid right now, largely consumed by silly issues that represent a dozen different ways to scream "I hate your tribe!" School choice is a smart issue that can win with voters while lowering the pressure on social tensions that threaten to tear the country apart. With educational freedom at stake, these midterm elections have the potential to defy the odds and actually be constructive.
Tapate50
Well-known member
Great ROI there I'm sure some expert would say.
About as good as that 50 billion+ we tossed to Ukraine.
sturg33
I
One of the very few silver linings of the pandemic was parents getting an inside look at how useless their public schools are
acesfull86
Well-known member
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/biden-pelosi-top-dems-sent-kids-private-school-oppose-choice
Fun list of hypocritical politicians who pay (paid) for the very best for their own children, but oppose opening those same educational opportunities to everyone.
These same folks will insist they’re the ones looking out for the disadvantaged.
Fun list of hypocritical politicians who pay (paid) for the very best for their own children, but oppose opening those same educational opportunities to everyone.
These same folks will insist they’re the ones looking out for the disadvantaged.
acesfull86
Well-known member
https://lawliberty.org/the-death-of-separationism-and-the-life-of-school-choice/
In a Supreme Court term of many consequential decisions, Carson v. Makin stands out for its likely enduring legal and political effects. In Carson, which was handed down on Tuesday, the Court held that Maine could not prevent parents from using its tuition assistance for rural residents at sectarian religious schools. As Chief Justice Roberts said, a “State need not subsidize private education. But once a State decides to do so, it cannot disqualify some private schools solely because they are religious.”
...
Carson is not only important for what it does for Establishment Clause jurisprudence but what it does for the school choice movement. That movement already has political momentum. First, many public schools have been heavily criticized for closing for too long during the pandemic with substantial losses of learning, particularly for the poorest students. Second, many parents are furious with what their public schools are teaching, viewing commonly used history curricula in particular as tendentious and unpatriotic. Many also worry about an emphasis on equity over excellence. As a result, a parental rights movement is emerging as a powerful electoral force.
School choice is the logical institutional manifestation of parental rights. A parent who can choose the school his or her child attends has more influence on the child’s education. At a traditional public school, a parent can only vote in a school board election, and once the school board is elected, he or she retains no substantial leverage at all. School choice provides the invaluable right of exit.
Carson assures those who want to send their children to religious schools that religious choices can never be excluded from a choice program. Thus, it energizes parents who want a religious alternative to the traditional public school to join with parents who want alternatives for secular reasons. The ruling thus contributes even more energy to one of our most important contemporary social movements.
In a Supreme Court term of many consequential decisions, Carson v. Makin stands out for its likely enduring legal and political effects. In Carson, which was handed down on Tuesday, the Court held that Maine could not prevent parents from using its tuition assistance for rural residents at sectarian religious schools. As Chief Justice Roberts said, a “State need not subsidize private education. But once a State decides to do so, it cannot disqualify some private schools solely because they are religious.”
...
Carson is not only important for what it does for Establishment Clause jurisprudence but what it does for the school choice movement. That movement already has political momentum. First, many public schools have been heavily criticized for closing for too long during the pandemic with substantial losses of learning, particularly for the poorest students. Second, many parents are furious with what their public schools are teaching, viewing commonly used history curricula in particular as tendentious and unpatriotic. Many also worry about an emphasis on equity over excellence. As a result, a parental rights movement is emerging as a powerful electoral force.
School choice is the logical institutional manifestation of parental rights. A parent who can choose the school his or her child attends has more influence on the child’s education. At a traditional public school, a parent can only vote in a school board election, and once the school board is elected, he or she retains no substantial leverage at all. School choice provides the invaluable right of exit.
Carson assures those who want to send their children to religious schools that religious choices can never be excluded from a choice program. Thus, it energizes parents who want a religious alternative to the traditional public school to join with parents who want alternatives for secular reasons. The ruling thus contributes even more energy to one of our most important contemporary social movements.
acesfull86
Well-known member
https://chamberbusinessnews.com/2022/06/29/arizonas-expansion-of-school-choice-earns-national-plaudits/
Arizona is earning national plaudits for its recent passage of a school choice program that will allow all students to attend the school of their choice by using a state-sponsored scholarship.
The expansion of school choice has been a priority of Gov. Doug Ducey over the course of his nearly eight-year tenure, and his final legislative session as governor marked the successful culmination of his agenda to help more students access the educational environment that fits their needs.
“Let’s think big and find more ways to get kids into the school of their parents’ choice, especially those in failing schools or who can’t afford to pick up and move to a new neighborhood. Send me the bills, and I’ll sign them,” Ducey told lawmakers at his January 10 State of the State address.
The Legislature delivered in the final days of the legislative session with passage of HB 2853, which makes Empowerment Scholarship Accounts, or ESAs, available to all K-12 students.
———————
Massive win for the school choice movement. Hopefully it’s contagious and other states follow Arizona’s lead.
Arizona is earning national plaudits for its recent passage of a school choice program that will allow all students to attend the school of their choice by using a state-sponsored scholarship.
The expansion of school choice has been a priority of Gov. Doug Ducey over the course of his nearly eight-year tenure, and his final legislative session as governor marked the successful culmination of his agenda to help more students access the educational environment that fits their needs.
“Let’s think big and find more ways to get kids into the school of their parents’ choice, especially those in failing schools or who can’t afford to pick up and move to a new neighborhood. Send me the bills, and I’ll sign them,” Ducey told lawmakers at his January 10 State of the State address.
The Legislature delivered in the final days of the legislative session with passage of HB 2853, which makes Empowerment Scholarship Accounts, or ESAs, available to all K-12 students.
———————
Massive win for the school choice movement. Hopefully it’s contagious and other states follow Arizona’s lead.
acesfull86
Well-known member
https://reason.com/2022/06/29/arizonas-new-law-funds-students-not-just-government-run-schools/
Last week's successful vote "Expands eligibility for the Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) program to every family in Arizona," comments Arizona's Goldwater Institute, which advocated for passage. "Families would receive over $6,500 per year per child for private school, homeschooling, 'learning pods,' tutoring, or any other kinds of educational service that would best fit their students' needs."
Notably, participation in the program is now open to any state resident eligible to enroll in kindergarten through 12th grade in Arizona's public schools. That means that tax money earmarked for education use in the state is no longer tied to brick-and-mortar buildings run by government bureaucrats. The money can follow students to where they learn best.
Last week's successful vote "Expands eligibility for the Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) program to every family in Arizona," comments Arizona's Goldwater Institute, which advocated for passage. "Families would receive over $6,500 per year per child for private school, homeschooling, 'learning pods,' tutoring, or any other kinds of educational service that would best fit their students' needs."
Notably, participation in the program is now open to any state resident eligible to enroll in kindergarten through 12th grade in Arizona's public schools. That means that tax money earmarked for education use in the state is no longer tied to brick-and-mortar buildings run by government bureaucrats. The money can follow students to where they learn best.
acesfull86
Well-known member
acesfull86
Well-known member
https://www.wsj.com/articles/public-school-achievement-choice-money-student-florida-kansas-gap-11657316301?mod=opinion_major_pos17
Jeff Yass is spot on: It’s time to stop writing blank checks for failing public-school systems (“Money for Children, Not Schools,” op-ed, June 23). States with robust money-follow-the-child programs, such as Florida and Arizona, register achievement gains far exceeding the national average. Florida’s low-income fourth-graders went from 12% proficient in reading in 1998 to a nation-leading 28% proficient in 2019. That 133% improvement is more than double the national average, while here in Kansas proficiency declined.
Toni Jennings, a retired teacher and former lieutenant governor of Florida, says, “The more competition we had in education, the better off we became. So, I for one believe that competition is good. But you will hear those who say, ‘Oh no, you’re making the public schools compete with others.’ Well, those children are going to have to go out and compete with others in the workaday world.”
The 2021 ACT results show that 31% of white students are college-ready in English, reading, math and science, while only 14% of Hispanic students and 6% of black students met that standard. Achievement gaps are getting worse, and at least here in Kansas, school districts ignore state laws directing them to identify and address barriers to improvement in each school.
The public-school system needs a healthy dose of choice, transparency and accountability to give students a fighting chance to succeed in life.
Jeff Yass is spot on: It’s time to stop writing blank checks for failing public-school systems (“Money for Children, Not Schools,” op-ed, June 23). States with robust money-follow-the-child programs, such as Florida and Arizona, register achievement gains far exceeding the national average. Florida’s low-income fourth-graders went from 12% proficient in reading in 1998 to a nation-leading 28% proficient in 2019. That 133% improvement is more than double the national average, while here in Kansas proficiency declined.
Toni Jennings, a retired teacher and former lieutenant governor of Florida, says, “The more competition we had in education, the better off we became. So, I for one believe that competition is good. But you will hear those who say, ‘Oh no, you’re making the public schools compete with others.’ Well, those children are going to have to go out and compete with others in the workaday world.”
The 2021 ACT results show that 31% of white students are college-ready in English, reading, math and science, while only 14% of Hispanic students and 6% of black students met that standard. Achievement gaps are getting worse, and at least here in Kansas, school districts ignore state laws directing them to identify and address barriers to improvement in each school.
The public-school system needs a healthy dose of choice, transparency and accountability to give students a fighting chance to succeed in life.