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Utah school voucher program; Can this work in Michigan?
Topic Started: Nov 1 2007, 02:37 PM (232 Views)
LPS Reformer
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The schools exist to educate, not employ.
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A Quick Note From Susan Morris...

The passage of the Parent Choice in Education Act, is the most promising news in education in our lifetime. Here's what the new law means:

Your Money (tax dollars)
Your Children
Your Choice - Private or Public School
Isn't that simple? And doesn't it make sense?

It just makes sense that, as parents, we should be able to choose the very best option for our children's education. Because what we're really choosing is their future. The type of education we provide them today, will help define who they are tomorrow.

This new law, simply gives us, the parents, back the power to make those choices using our tax dollars.

Your money, your children, your choice - it's really just that simple.

“Child Abuse” means different things to different people....
----Randy Liepa 8/9/12
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LPS Reformer
Member Avatar
The schools exist to educate, not employ.
What is the voucher program?

A voucher is simply a scholarship that helps
pay for tuition at K-12 private schools. To
determine if you qualify, click here.


How much money can I get?

The amount ranges from $500 to $3,000, depending
on your household size and income. Click here for details.


Does my my family qualify?

All families qualify if they had children enrolled
in Utah public schools on January 1, 2007, or
if they have a child eligible to enter public kindergarten
for 2007-08. The maximum scholarship of $3,000,
however, is for "low-income" families (those who are
eligible for reduced prices under the federal school lunch
program).

Click here to see complete income/scholarship tables.


What schools are participating?

Private schools with at least 40 students that are
willing to meet certain testing, disclosure, health,
safety and financial requirements are eligible if they
choose.


How do I apply? When is the application deadline?

The Utah State Board of Education is required to have
applications available by May 15. You may go to
www.SchoolChoiceUtah.org to sign up to receive an
e-mail notice as soon as applications are available.

The application deadline is July 15, 2007.


Do vouchers hurt public schools?

No, they help!

First, voucher money comes from the
state General Fund, not the Uniform School Fund (for
public schools).

Second, the maximum voucher is
$3,000. The remaining $3,309 OR MORE that the state
normally spends per student would stay in the
student's school district for five years. (The
actuall amount remaining will be determined by the
average scholarship amount.)

This means that the school districts will have more
money per pupil than before the voucher passed. And
teachers will have smaller class sizes. As the money
cushion is phased out after five years, natural population
growth will have provided new funding in its place.


What is the private school difference?

A charter school is a public school, fully funded by
the state.

Therefore, the state controls requirements for
teachers and curriculum. As long as a charter school
meets those requirements, its independent school board
can select teachers and curriculum materials.

A private school, on the other hand, is accountable to
parents--not state bureaucrats--for teacher
credentials, curriculum content and student
performance.


What about home schoolers?

Currently, only home schoolers who also meet federal
low-income guidelines qualify for a voucher. The
exception would be if they have an eligible
kindergartner for 2007-08. They would then qualify for
that child, whatever their income.


What about children already enrolled in private
schools?

The same stipulations apply as for home schoolers.


What if we're new Utah residents?

Any family residing in Utah after January 1, 2007 and
before the application deadline is eligible for a
voucher.


What is the actual cost of the vouchers to taxpayers?

The legislature appropriated $9.2 million for the
voucher program. They also appropriated $3.5 BILLION
for public education. So less than 1/2 of 1 percent
of the total expenditure for education goes for
vouchers.

Or to put it a differently, Utah public education
spends more than TWICE THE ENTIRE ANNUAL AMOUNT
allocated for vouchers EVERY SCHOOL DAY.

Furthermore, vouchers allow the state to educate a
child for 1/3 the cost of public education, with an
estimated savings of over $1 BILLION in 13 years.

Not only that, but the state's cost of every child in
private school is supplemented by money paid by their
parents, since the voucher normally does not cover the
entire cost of tuition. So vouchers increase the
amount of PRIVATE money flowing into the education
system as well.

It's a win-win situation for both the private and
public system.


But should public money benefit private businesses?

It does every day in every branch of government.
People on public assistance spend food stamps at
private grocery stores. The elderly on Medicare visit
private doctors and hospitals. And public schools hire
private contractors to build school buildings, buy
textbooks from private publishers and so on. In
education, yes, private businesses receive a secondary
benefit, but the PRIMARY benefit goes to the children.


What about the separation of church and state when it
comes to religious private schools?

The Supreme Court has upheld voucher programs in other
states attacked on this very issue. The reason, again,
is that it is lawful for parents to have the right to
direct their children's education, and the children's
benefit is the primary concern. Both secular and
religious private schools have an equal opportunity
for a secondary benefit, according to parents' choice.
“Child Abuse” means different things to different people....
----Randy Liepa 8/9/12
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