Voucher Question
My question concerns the voucher bill. How can lawmakers justify diverting taxpayer money to private schools if these private institutions are not held to the same performance and assessment standards as public schools under federal No Child Left Behind guidelines?
Susan
Salt Lake County
Rather than make private schools adopt the performance criteria of public schools, a much better thing for our students would be if the public schools adopted private school accountability measures. But the public schools would never allow that to happen.
Currently, any family that has the money to do so, can send their children to private schools. If they don't think the school is doing a good job, they can go elsewhere. If, however, a child from a family of limited means falls through the cracks in our public system (think, for example, of a child that is constantly bullied), private school typically is not an option -- unless the parents work 2 or 3 jobs. The voucher program is intended to provide a little assistance to anyone who determines a private school might better meet the needs of their child. The amount of assistance ranges from $500 to $3,000, depending on a family's income. As I have discussed at www.steveu.com, the program saves the state a lot of money -- that then can be distributed to meet the needs of children remaining in the public system.
In establishing the voucher program, criteria was set up that private schools must meet to receive voucher money. As you correctly note, private and public schools have differing operational models and, thus, differing requirements. You mentioned No Child Left Behind requirements.
Part of the reason that some parents are attracted to private schools is that the teachers and schools ultimately are much more accountable than public schools. In private schools, teacher pay and continued employment often is based on results. They perform well, and they get paid. The perform poorly, and they are shown the door. Some one can correct me if I'm wrong. But I don't believe merit pay or at-will contracts for teachers with any degree of experience are found in any of the districts in Utah. As a result, teacher performance is not as critical in the public schools for continued employment. Sad, but all too true. To match their children with teachers who are paid to get results, many parents are willing to pay twice (once to the public schools through their taxes and once to the private schools through tuition).
I would agree with you, if you believe that public schools have too many hoops to jump through. However, agreement on a principle and a feasible remedy are two different things. Clear and accurate accountability exists through merit pay and at-will contracting. If public education will not allow such a straight forward system, then something has to be devised. Though it is a poor substitute, elaborate (but weak) performance and assessment measures are utilized in the public schools. I'd love to do away with them, in place of straight-forward performance based pay, but the education establishment is too strong to give parents and students that reward.
Without better accountability in the public schools -- and pay based on performance -- we will continue to lose too many potentially excellent teachers. If the excellent ones get paid the same as the worst ones, the excellent ones become discouraged. And, as many voucher opponents understand, without direct accountability in the public system, parents likewise become discouraged and seek other options directed toward good results.
Stephen Urquhart
Utah State Representative, District 75
Chairman of the House Rules Committee
Susan
Salt Lake County
Rather than make private schools adopt the performance criteria of public schools, a much better thing for our students would be if the public schools adopted private school accountability measures. But the public schools would never allow that to happen.Currently, any family that has the money to do so, can send their children to private schools. If they don't think the school is doing a good job, they can go elsewhere. If, however, a child from a family of limited means falls through the cracks in our public system (think, for example, of a child that is constantly bullied), private school typically is not an option -- unless the parents work 2 or 3 jobs. The voucher program is intended to provide a little assistance to anyone who determines a private school might better meet the needs of their child. The amount of assistance ranges from $500 to $3,000, depending on a family's income. As I have discussed at www.steveu.com, the program saves the state a lot of money -- that then can be distributed to meet the needs of children remaining in the public system.
In establishing the voucher program, criteria was set up that private schools must meet to receive voucher money. As you correctly note, private and public schools have differing operational models and, thus, differing requirements. You mentioned No Child Left Behind requirements.
Part of the reason that some parents are attracted to private schools is that the teachers and schools ultimately are much more accountable than public schools. In private schools, teacher pay and continued employment often is based on results. They perform well, and they get paid. The perform poorly, and they are shown the door. Some one can correct me if I'm wrong. But I don't believe merit pay or at-will contracts for teachers with any degree of experience are found in any of the districts in Utah. As a result, teacher performance is not as critical in the public schools for continued employment. Sad, but all too true. To match their children with teachers who are paid to get results, many parents are willing to pay twice (once to the public schools through their taxes and once to the private schools through tuition).
I would agree with you, if you believe that public schools have too many hoops to jump through. However, agreement on a principle and a feasible remedy are two different things. Clear and accurate accountability exists through merit pay and at-will contracting. If public education will not allow such a straight forward system, then something has to be devised. Though it is a poor substitute, elaborate (but weak) performance and assessment measures are utilized in the public schools. I'd love to do away with them, in place of straight-forward performance based pay, but the education establishment is too strong to give parents and students that reward.
Without better accountability in the public schools -- and pay based on performance -- we will continue to lose too many potentially excellent teachers. If the excellent ones get paid the same as the worst ones, the excellent ones become discouraged. And, as many voucher opponents understand, without direct accountability in the public system, parents likewise become discouraged and seek other options directed toward good results.
Stephen Urquhart
Utah State Representative, District 75
Chairman of the House Rules Committee
2 Comments:
This would be great if public schools can then pick and choose which students to accept and reject based on numerous factors such as academic ability, attendance, disciplinary problems and other factors.
Where have you missed the point about "public" schools?
Rep. Urquhart,
You suggest that public school have a choice concerning implementation of federal and state requirements. Curriculum, testing standards, teacher licensing, class size, have all been determined by the elected officials, of which you are one. Public schools are at the mercy of the government.
There are a lot of "what if" scenarios; but what if an Aryan Nation group decided to open a private school in Utah? The voucher law would allow them access to tax payer money.
Maybe there are some benefits to voucher bill, but when public money is invested into anything, then standards and requirements must be met.
I realize that the pro-voucher lobby is very powerful with deep pockets. Apparently they have invested richly into your opinion.
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