Lawmakers seek massive expansion of voucher scheme
Published May 13, 2016
by Chris Fitzsimon, NC Policy Watch and NC SPIN panelist, May 12, 2016.
If a handful of right-wing legislators have their way, taxpayers in North Carolina may soon be spending $125 million a year funding private and fundamentalist religious schools that can refuse to admit gay or transgender students—or even students with gay parents.
That’s one of the many troubling features of the state’s school voucher scheme, misleadingly named the opportunity scholarship program that provides $4,200 vouchers to private academies and religious schools to pay for the education of low and moderate income students who apply to participate.
The state has currently $12 million of public money available for private schools with virtually no accountability measures in place to guarantee or even monitor the quality of education the children are receiving. A bill filed this week at the General Assembly would increase that funding every year until it reaches $125 million a year in ten years.
More than 90 percent of the private schools who receive taxpayer funds through the voucher scheme are religious and the bulk of those are conservative fundamentalist schools, many of which use the A-Beka Book curriculum and books from Bob Jones University Press.
Those books say that humans and dinosaurs co-existed, that slaves were treated well, and that gay men and lesbians have no more claims to special rights than child molesters or rapists.
Billy Ball at NC Policy Watch reported earlier this year that one school that qualifies to receive the taxpayer-funded vouchers, Lee Christian in Sanford, requires students and parents to sign a “lifestyle statement and covenant” agreeing that “gender confusion” reflects a state of depravity and that sexual relationships between people of the same sex are “sinful and immoral.”
Ball also reported that officials with the N.C. School Boards Association have identified private schools across the state that openly discriminate against students and families despite receiving public funding, putting gay parents in the position of having their tax dollars paying for schools that have a policy of refusing admission to their children.
The voucher schools do not have to adopt any specific education goals to receive voucher money and there are no guidelines for the curriculum that is taught. There are no certification credentials or minimum education requirements for teachers who are not even required to undergo a criminal background check.
The voucher schools do have to administer a national standardized test, but it doesn’t matter which one and the school is not required to report those results to the state unless it has a certain number of voucher students.
Voucher schools are also not part of the A-F grading system that is now used to evaluate public schools based on test scores, even though many voucher supporters in the General Assembly are also the leading voices for the accountability system.
Apparently, parents only need to know how public schools are doing, not the private schools they are also funding.
Voucher supporters answer almost every question about the shocking lack of accountability at the taxpayer supported religious schools by saying that parents provide it by choosing the school for their children.
But what about parents who were already choosing the schools using the A-Beka books? Should be the state be paying to teach children things are wrong or even offensive?
And should taxpayers be funding schools that openly discriminate against children and families based on sexual orientation or gender identity?
Gov. Pat McCrory keeps claiming, as part of his rambling defense of HB2, that he doesn’t support discrimination. But the budgets he has signed in the last few years have sent millions of dollars to private schools that have in their policies the intent to discriminate against LGBT children and parents.
It’s past time for a long, careful look at the troubling voucher scheme in North Carolina. And given the blatant discrimination that currently infects it, expanding it now might best be described as sinful and immoral.
http://www.ncpolicywatch.com/2016/05/12/lawmakers-seek-massive-expansion-of-voucher-scheme-that-discriminates-against-lgbt-students/
May 13, 2016 at 8:21 am
Richard L Bunce says:
Oh the horror, the humanity... all parents being able to choose the school their children attend, not just Chris's limousine liberal friends... who Chris has never worried about what their children might or might not be learning.
The government education industrial complex and their apologists like Chris will say and do anything to keep poor parents from having a real choice... and of course racist as they would not want "those people" sending their children to the same private schools as their own children.
May 13, 2016 at 9:18 am
Norm Kelly says:
Here we go again.
A lib referring to a Republican plan as a 'scheme'. Funny how libs LOVE to call Republican plans 'schemes' but NEVER, EVER refer to the wacky ideas of lefties as 'schemes'.
Lefties can say the most outrageous things, violate the law, insist that blacks are incapable, and they never have to apologize or explain or worry about being called a racist.
But when a Republican comes up with an idea to actually allow PARENTS to make a choice on where their kids attend school, not based on finances so much, libs come out of the woodwork to refer to ideas as 'schemes'.
Libs are so transparent. And lack real ideas. Retread tax increases, retread spending increases, retread tax the wealthy, retread institute MORE socialism. But come up with a new idea? Not possible for libs. Come up with a different way of attacking the problem? Not possible for libs. Actually attempt to solve a problem? Not something libs do. Libs like to cover up a problem, spend money on a problem, blame Republicans for the problem, and then avoid the natural outcome of not solving a problem. But their favorite whine is 'Blame the Republicans!'. Someday more people will catch on to the schemes, misinformation, misleading, and bias on the left. Someday blacks will join us in denouncing the schemes of lefties.
Poor Chris.
May 13, 2016 at 1:34 pm
Curt Budd says:
Norm and Richard obviously support a parent's right to use taxpayer money to pay to send their child to a school that openly discriminates or is segregated. The fact that these schools do these things is not up for debate, most are open about it. Further, they are not performing any better than traditional public schools. That is also, not up for debate, although it would be easier to debate if these schools actually had any standards to meet.
Vouchers, in theory, are a noble idea. A family getting an opportunity to get their child the best education possible, sounds fantastic. But with a few years of actual data now, it is obvious, this system has turned into families just finding a loophole to pay for their children to attend a socially, or religious like-minded school at taxpayer's expense. This has nothing to do with education.
Since Norm and Richard are so passionate about this topic(they are the only ones who ever comment on here about vouchers.) I would love to here their non-partisan, innovative approaches to fixing education in this state. It's about what's best for the kids, right?? Instead of name-calling, or complaining, do either of you have an innovative idea? Besides expanding voucher system, that idea is proven not to work. You can check other states data on that too, btw. And you don't need to tell me the current system doesn't work, I already know your opinion on that. But if you are truly passionate about helping the next generation as I am, let's hear your ideas.
May 13, 2016 at 1:36 pm
Curt Budd says:
Norm and Richard obviously support a parent's right to use taxpayer money to pay to send their child to a school that openly discriminates or is segregated. The fact that these schools do these things is not up for debate, most are open about it. Further, they are not performing any better than traditional public schools. That is also, not up for debate, although it would be easier to debate if these schools actually had any standards to meet.
Vouchers, in theory, are a noble idea. A family getting an opportunity to get their child the best education possible, sounds fantastic. But with a few years of actual data now, it is obvious, this system has turned into families just finding a loophole to pay for their children to attend a socially, or religious like-minded school at taxpayer's expense. This has nothing to do with education.
Since Norm and Richard are so passionate about this topic(they are the only ones who ever comment on here about vouchers.) I would love to hea their non-partisan, innovative approaches to fixing education in this state. It's about what's best for the kids, right?? Instead of name-calling, or complaining, do either of you have an innovative idea? Besides expanding voucher system, that idea is proven not to work. You can check other states data on that too, btw. And you don't need to tell me the current system doesn't work, I already know your opinion on that. But if you are truly passionate about helping the next generation as I am, let's hear your ideas.
May 13, 2016 at 4:13 pm
Richard L Bunce says:
I support the opportunity for ALL parents (not just limousine liberals) to send their children to the school of their choice and not be stuck with the failing government school system choose for them by a government education bureaucrat. Whether the school of choice is following the US and State Constitution and other laws is independent of the funding source.
You once again think so little of parents it is embarrassing. Your concern is not the education of the students but to maximize the flow of tax dollars to the government school systems. The many fine existing private schools are filled with some of the most successful K-12 students (including home schools of course)... you have no issue with the quality of the education... you are only concerned about the redirection of tax dollars from the failing government school systems. I like my position just fine standing with the parents instead of government education bureaucrats.
There is no fixing government school systems... 20th Century Education factories are so 20th Century.
May 16, 2016 at 2:46 pm
Curt Budd says:
"...think so little of parents"??. Again, you launch attacks instead of trying to solve problems. Apparently, unlike yourself, I am a PARENT of a school-aged child. And as a teacher, I talk(in a respectful manner) to parents on a daily basis about how we can best TOGETHER give their respective child the best education possible. So you lose on the "think little of parents" argument.
I have NOTHING to gain by where tax dollars flow. But I do know that facts are that vouchers are not producing any favorable results except allowing some families to get their child into their preferred social/religious setting.
Your final statement was "there is no fixing government school systems". So is your idea to home-school everyone? Again, I have tried to be respectful and open to actual innovative ideas. What do you propose?
I've heard your idea of giving the money to the family to use wherever they propose is best. Again, sounds great in theory. And when a school fills up, where do the rest go? In an inner city, with families that don't have the means to send their child across town to the "good school"? How do you propose to educate those students(since the current system doesn't work) left at the "low-performing" school? Do you really care? I still sense that for you this is more about anti-govt, than actually educating anyone. Would love to be proven wrong.
May 18, 2016 at 10:31 am
Richard L Bunce says:
The market will respond in education just as it does in water, food, shelter, clothing, commerce, and every other human need and desire. Parents send children to alternate school systems every day, spending their own money and are very happy to do so, it is insulting to deny that opportunity to all parents on the notion that someone other than the parent knows what is best for their child. Employers and post secondary education officials accept the graduates from these alternate school systems everyday as employees and university students. Parents deciding where the State and Local government resources should be allocated to educate their children is the answer. All, most, many, some, none might choose government school systems. THAT is the answer.
May 19, 2016 at 4:02 pm
Curt Budd says:
Again, let's get into practicality.
So, my high school is the best in the area public or private. It holds about 1600 students.
-Out to what distance can we accept students? County?state?Country?
-When my school fills up, then students apply to the next "best" school with their alloted money?
-What method do we use to accept students into my school? Is it completely random? Do I get to choose who gets in? Can I pick exactly the demographics I want, like private schools do?
-Once I accept them, do I have to provide them transportation? Meals? Any special needs, services? Private schools and charters currently don't have to. So they can provide "schooling" at a cheaper price.
-Is it okay for my school to keep our "methods" for teaching secret, not share with other schools, since it's a competition? We wouldn't want other schools to get better and our students to want to go somewhere else, right?
These are just a few questions, with a completely open-market education system. Response?
May 20, 2016 at 10:45 am
Richard L Bunce says:
The 20th Century Education factory model has come to an end... we don't ask those questions about any other essential service such as food, housing, clothing, transportation, etc... where there is demand there will be supply. People figure out how to get children to school and to feed them long before the social engineers in the government education industrial complex decided to take over every aspect of a students life as their parents could not be trusted. There are alternative schools in low income areas... not a problem. Parents have and will continue to figure this out and if a parent wants to continue to have their child attend the school they are assigned by some anonymous government education bureaucrat... they are free to do so. No need for government school systems to change at all... except in response to market forces of course.
As for secret education agendas... what nonsense... parents can talk to the children every evening if they wish to discuss what happened in their school that day... talk to other parents and their children that attend the same school... in my 40 years as an adult I find no shortage of information readily available on innovative schools and their methods.
All parents want a real choice for their children in their education, not just relatively wealthy parents who make this choice and the not so wealthy parents who also make this choice at great sacrifice to their families finances while still paying a full share for the failed government 20th Century education factory education system.
May 20, 2016 at 4:35 pm
Curt Budd says:
You didn't answer a single direct question. Please stop giving me your anarchist talking points speech that you use to respond to people with political agendas. I have no political interest. I want what's best for students. I tried to open a door for honest, productive debate. Your response, "it will all just work out". How naive.
Maybe your way would work. Show me how. With at least a little detail. Has it worked somewhere else? All you tell me is what you believe doesn't work.
I will make it easy, just answer one. Can my school, currently public, (and currently the BEST performing, public, private, or charter) in this area, under your system, start selecting exactly who WE want academically, socially, etc. to let in? Because even under the current system we have a lot more applicants than we are allowed or can support. Would that be okay under your vision of education? I look forward to your answer.
May 21, 2016 at 10:16 am
Richard L Bunce says:
Worked out for... food, housing, clothing, transportation... education.
Government schools are not the only schools in existence. Government school teachers are not the only school teachers in existence. The vast majority of parents/guardians care a hell of a lot more about their children than the government school bureaucrats.
Provide all parents with the resources to secure the education of their choice for their children... if your claims are true... they will all voluntarily end up in government school systems... that would be going against the tide of moving away from 20th Century Factory Models for systems... for government run systems... toward freedom and choice in our lives.
May 23, 2016 at 1:55 pm
Curt Budd says:
Still didn't answer.
May 23, 2016 at 11:05 pm
Richard L Bunce says:
Several times actually...
May 24, 2016 at 3:30 pm
Curt Budd says:
It is a yes or no question. Under your suggestion, can my currently public school(the best performing school of any type in the area, that has way more applicants, than openings) begin to select whom we want based on academics? demographics? etc. Yes or No?
May 25, 2016 at 10:18 am
Richard L Bunce says:
Each school can decide how to meet their demand... be selective or expand... just like any other market function... and don't whine about the unfairness of it all... this is far superior to being assigned to a failing school by a government education bureaucrat. Just like post secondary education... not everyone... most applicants get rejected by at least one school... most of them government universities.
