We're not in Kansas anymore: Dispelling the myths about school
choice once and for all

By Nancy Salvato
web posted October 31, 2005

Bob Sigman, Opinion Editor of The Johnson County Sun (KS),
has a problem with the idea that, "State-financed vouchers could
be used by students to attend the school of their choice, public
or private." He believes that, "This would open the way to state
support of private schools, breaking down the traditional barrier
between church and state." What Mr. Sigman and all the other
anti school choice advocates should know is that the Supreme
Court ruled in 2002, "that a neutral program that neither favors
nor disfavors religion, vouchers directed by the private,
independent choices of parents do not constitute state support or
endorsement of religion."

Unfortunately, this myth and many others influenced
Congressional policy makers to vote down the Family Education
Reimbursement Act (FERA) proposal – sponsored by Chairman
John Boehner (R-OH) and Rep. Bobby Jindal (R-LA). This
proposal would have provided needed relief and parental choice
options for the 372,000 students displaced by hurricane Katrina
by allowing them to enroll in a school of their parents choice for
the 2005-06 school year.

The Wall Street Journal considered FERA the best proposal
because it would have circumvented the education bureaucracy
that makes it difficult to provide immediate relief to families in
need. Perhaps the fiscal conservatives that voted down the
measure weren't aware that, "Because of bureaucracy, two of
every five tax dollars raised for schools do not even make it to
the classroom."

Legislators should be reminded that private schools are operated
more cheaply than public schools. Just compare the average
private school tuition, $4,689.00 to the average cost of
educating a student in public school at $8,830.00. Each child
educated outside the public school system saves the state
$3,535.00. When the money follows the child it saves tax payer
dollars.

The idea that families would have been allowed to choose the
best school – public, private, or charter –assuredly raised the
hackles of those who fear the program's success would serve as
a catalyst for more school choice advocates to demand school
choice be made available to all families who might be interested
in private school options. The reality is that tax payers finance
vouchers just as they do public schools. Some taxpayers would
rather see their children attend private schools. Why should they
have to pay twice?

Vouchers create competition among public and private schools.
Public schools would be forced to improve or they would lose
enrollment. Studies done in Florida, Wisconsin, Texas, Maine &
Vermont provide evidence that school choice does help public
schools perform better.

Another myth perpetuated by Mr. Sigman, that true comparisons
between public and private school cannot be made until the
playing field is leveled is simply not accurate. He relies on the
argument that, "Private schools do not have to provide special
education services." Yet, as reported in the June 2005 School
Choice Advocate, parents of children diagnosed with learning
disabilities do send their children to private schools in order to
take advantage of smaller, more focused learning environments
which can improve academic performance and self confidence.
Utah just passed a voucher bill specifically aimed at "special
needs" children which will allow them to take advantage of
private schools with specialized curriculum that meets the needs
of those with particular learning disabilities.

Sigman bemoans the fact that, "Public schools must negotiate
employment contracts with teachers, private schools do not.
That can result in higher costs for salaries and other benefits."
The FERA proposal simply tried to work around the education
establishment by disposing of the layers upon layers of education
bureaucracy that drives costs up and instead suggested working
with an independent contractor to expediently and cost efficiently
meet the demands of displaced families and the schools which
accommodate their educational needs.

Although private schools are not required to be accredited by
the state, most have stringent curriculum standards. If a private
school does not perform it will fail because students are not
compelled to attend an underperforming school. This means that
teachers must be highly qualified and exert the effort required for
success. Lower salaries do not deter all good teachers from
working in private school environments because there are less
behavioral issues and more administrative supports. Students are
expected to meet the curriculum demands which make them
eligible for admission to four year colleges.

"If the state starts funding private schools through vouchers,
Vratil warns [in Sigman's OpEd], "there will be strings
attached… Inevitably, the state will impose education
requirements on private schools similar to those that govern
public schools." Walberg and Bast say that this doesn't have to
happen if language included as part of a constitutional
amendment establishes, "that the autonomy of private schools is
in the public interest and that all regulations affecting private
schools are "frozen" at their pre-voucher levels." Regulatory
bodies will need to have their "membership equally balanced
between government and private school interests." They suggest
other ways to combat this possibility, as well.

It is fiscally irresponsible to allow myths and irrational fears to
influence the decisions made by those elected to represent us.
We the people need to express our dissatisfaction with the status
quo educational practices that leave some children behind and
embrace the power of the free market to drive the quality of
education up.

Nancy Salvato is the President of The Basics Project,
(www.Basicsproject.org) a non-profit, non-partisan research
and educational project whose mission is to promote the
education of the American public on the basic elements of
relevant political, legal and social issues important to our country.
Copyright © Nancy Salvato 2005

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