School Choice Can Help States Meet Budget Challenges

Cato Daily Dispatch ^ | April 22, 2003 | Wyatt Dubois, editor

[bruinbirdman]

The Associated Press reports, "High school students in Fairbanks, Alaska, shouted from street corners to protest bigger class sizes. Parents in Denver braved frigid wind chills to rally against cuts to a voter-approved school fund. Buses for a demonstration in Frankfort, Ky., had interstate traffic backed up for two miles.

"Public schools typically eat up more cash than any other state service. So as states face their worst financial conditions in decades, many have planned school cuts broad and deep, from firing teachers to requiring cheerleaders to pay if they want a squad."

In "School Choice Can Help States Meet Budget Challenges", David Salisbury, director of the Cato Institute's Center for Educational Freedom writes: "Since public education accounts for the largest category of state spending in every state, governors should look for ways to optimize education spending. One way to do that is to give parents a free choice of public or private schools. Since private schools cost less than average per pupil spending in government-run schools, states would save money.

"Some states have already started to move in this direction, reducing class sizes and saving on their education budgets. Florida, which allows children with disabilities to attend private or public schools, will save nearly $8 million dollars this year because of students attending less expensive private schools. With participation in the program doubling each year, the savings will continue to grow."

[EdReform]

BTTT

[Luke]

This is a step in the right direction. But you've got to contend with the teacher and support unions. NEA is more powerful than the Mafia.

When I..., as a grandparent, speak of public education I think of my grandson's education. When politicians and unions speak of public education they think of jobs.

Public education in America is a jobs program that FDR would have been proud to sponsor.

Home schooling, private or church schools serve our children better than traditional public schools. YES, give us a choice.

[valkyrieanne]

People *have* a choice. Why should the government pay for it? As a homeschooler, I don't *want* the government paying me any money for homeschooling, because I want their nose out of it. Government money in private schools will put those schools under gov't control.