I wish I could figure out how to end the voucher program in AZ! I personally know parents who joke about the state paying for their elite private Catholic school for their kids now. I don’t mind helping a low income family in a not so great school district get a better education, but that is not who is using it!
This funding actually provides a coupon for kids already in private schools - the money could educate kids in schools open to all by using it for public schools.
The AZ voucher program is an absolute mess - and public schools take all kids - regardless of disability or other demographic factors - I'm sure you know this. Supporting, funding, and improving our public schools helps everyone - voucher coupons help a select few - and there's growing evidence that school vouchers actually harm academic achievement.
Public schools do not take all kids, they take kids from a defined area. Funding for education should be focused on the child not a government institution.
It’s meant for rural areas with lack of public schools to help pay for charter schools and private schools. Or kids with special needs that the public schools lack in special education) It isn’t meant for people already sending their children to private elite schools (including religious schools) to pay for it especially when there are some of the highest ranking public schools with in a few miles. Like a lot of bills, it started out with good intentions to help in areas of need, but it gets abused by the rich who don’t need it.
Isn’t all state education funding a “money transfer scheme”?
I wish I could figure out how to end the voucher program in AZ! I personally know parents who joke about the state paying for their elite private Catholic school for their kids now. I don’t mind helping a low income family in a not so great school district get a better education, but that is not who is using it!
Isn’t educating kids the point of the funding?
This funding actually provides a coupon for kids already in private schools - the money could educate kids in schools open to all by using it for public schools.
It provides funding to all kids. Are all public schools in AZ open to all kids or are they address restricted as they were when we lived there?
The AZ voucher program is an absolute mess - and public schools take all kids - regardless of disability or other demographic factors - I'm sure you know this. Supporting, funding, and improving our public schools helps everyone - voucher coupons help a select few - and there's growing evidence that school vouchers actually harm academic achievement.
Public schools do not take all kids, they take kids from a defined area. Funding for education should be focused on the child not a government institution.
Thanks for sharing your perspective, Neil. Your position is noted.
It’s meant for rural areas with lack of public schools to help pay for charter schools and private schools. Or kids with special needs that the public schools lack in special education) It isn’t meant for people already sending their children to private elite schools (including religious schools) to pay for it especially when there are some of the highest ranking public schools with in a few miles. Like a lot of bills, it started out with good intentions to help in areas of need, but it gets abused by the rich who don’t need it.
Thanks, Judy, for that explanation.