Using vouchers to pay for educating students is a big controversial issue in many states. Some feel that public funds should not be used to pay private or parochial schools to educate students coming from public schools. Under No Child Left Behind (NCLB), parents in some states are allowed to take their children out of underperforming or failing schools and take them to a school of their choice. It may be to another public school or to a private or parochial school. Many opponents believe that all of the "good" children will leave the failing schools and only the "bad" will remain.
In Florida, vouchers have been the center of attention over the past few years. Court decisions have been rendered only to be reversed by upper courts. Schools that operate soley on vouchers have very limited budgets because vouchers do not fully compensate these schools for the cost of educating children. Like charter schools, schools that are dependent on vouchers make ends meet somehow. Schools that have limited budgets also have employees who perform many tasks. It's part of the job.
In our charter school, one person is the bookkeeper, cafeteria manager, and disciplinarian, and school nurse. The principal pays the bills, handles payoll, teaches two classes, makes sure the budget is balanced, handles curriculum and instruction, orders textbooks, and much more.
Do you think it is fair for public dollars to be used to educate students in a private or parochial school?
1 comment:
My 5 year old daughter is attending her second year of private school. I am for the voucher system – not a big surprise. I feel like the money should follow the student. I am not against public education. I am a product of it. The school my daughter who have to attend is not an achieving school and I refuse to send my daughter to that school.
I pay my fair share of taxes and I would like to be able to use my share for my daughter education.
I understand the other side of the voucher system as well. This system could cause a mass number of students to leave the neighborhood school for private schools, which could lead to closing. And there is a greater chance of private schools would not accept students based on low test scores, etc. This is happening anyway. Hopefully the voucher system would encourage all public schools to provide the same level of education.
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