fyi

fyi

businesses to receive tax credit for contributions to scholarship funds for nonpublic students.

Sounds good to me. Many businesses give much $$$$$$$ to all kinds of private schools anyway.

I agree. A number of states now do this, it is a great idea.

Tax credit codes are written (i.e. controlled) by state Depts of Revenue or the federal IRS.

The tax codes spell out the type and description of programs eligible for credits.

Consider the control exerted by the government that may at any time revise the code to demand certain training of teachers, to forbid any discrimination in hiring, to include certain curricular materials, etc.

Tax credits are a Trojan horse of a different and more subtle color.

Please consider post #6.

So don't apply for them. Tax credits can be abusive but rarely so. Frankly of all of the tools designed to improve education in America, tax credits are the best imho. First, they are doable and politics is the art of the practical. Second, they have fewer strings on them than any other. Third, they help all students, rich or poor. Forth, they are voluntary. Are there risks? Yep, but private schools are always at risk. Are the benefits worth the risk? Imho, oh yes!

fyi

re:
"...The state program permits businesses to receive tax credit 
for contributions to scholarship funds for nonpublic [school] students...."

Oops... That hasn't passed Constitutional muster, and it is
doomed to fail.

You can't change tax laws to accommodate specific and
prejudicial causes.

(gotta' run - es thanks)

 

Everywhere it has passed it has met court scrutiny. Remember the Lemon Test?

I'm going to answer you here on this thread, rather 
than the other one:
(http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/a3bb094303d99.htm)

The theme is the same.

It is regarding your comment:
"..Everywhere it has passed it has met court scrutiny...."

There is seems to be some confusion regarding "Constitutional test"
and common legislation and court's decisions. The recent Presidential
election and the Florida court's decision should be a perfect example.

Local governments and the government agencies in general, can regulate
to their heart's content. They can pass legislation making the most
profoundly  un-constitutional laws imaginable. (I live in Massachusetts,
I can bear witness)

Until someone takes their case to the Supreme Court of this Nation
for it's Constitutional interpretation, the law/regulation can remain;
It has not been put to the Constitutional test until then. And you cannot
assume that it will, regardless if the legislation has been around for 200+
years, more or less. 

Nothing becomes "Constitutionally correct" by seniority; there is no
"homesteading act" for legislation, bills and so-forth, that do not meet
this country's Constitutionally provided standards.

Providing school vouchers can open the doors to the unscrupulous as
well. There would have to be consultation with every application for
the receipt of a voucher, and the dispensing of one. The bureaucratic
involvement would have to be increased, and rightfully so. To be so
naive as to assume there will not be a magnitude of fraudulent bids
and schemes to gain the funds, is not conducive to intelligent thinking.

There was a time (not too long ago), that I felt "school vouchers" and
the privatization of education would be a great improvement.

I, very fortunately, opened my eyes.

The right way to improve the educational system, is to fight for those
improvements that are needed. And it can only be accomplished by
fighting for it as a whole. "Splitting the troops" is not the way.

Thanks.

 

Thanks for the ping...sorry I was away from the "puter" for a while.

I guess this is the way I see the need for school vouchers.......the government has a monopoly on education to a great degree in that it pigeon holes the poorest families into a system that has been raped by the NEA's group think, lock-step, marxist ideologies.

The doctors and the lawyers in this country must undergo constant education to continue in their professions BUT NOOOOO we can't ask the same of our Public School teachers, the NEA won't stand for that! More than half the teachers taking an exam to qualify to teach in one of the Eastern states FAIL THE EXAM......but still the NEA speaks of public schools going into disarray and only the poorest of the poor will be left for them to teach....I say not so.

Capitolism is the foundation of our system in this country regarding success...... New schools will spring up from this voucher system to pick up the slack and probably buy up any vacated school buildings in the process.....thereby breaking the hold that the teacher unions in this country have had on our children for all to long.

I say give us the vouchers and let competion do the rest...we are a resilient people and whatever problems arise from this will be solved in due time....to leave things as they are only purpetuates the problem......I've seen this with my own eyes for over 20 years now......what are we so afraid of?

The arguments from the other side sound an aweful lot like the arguments that were made by the "Don't Touch my Welfare" crowd. Sorry for the rant but that's my take on the subject.

Then explain the 100+ years of success that Maine and Vermont have enjoyed with choice.

Exactly. Choice works.

I, very fortunately, opened my eyes.

Was that when you got a NEA approved job?

re:
"...Was that when you got a NEA approved job?..."

Get rid of the Teacher's unions and end the tenure system,
and you'll see immediate improvements.

Allowing teachers to hold jobs they are no longer interested
in performing, is a discredit to the children and society. The
unions have long overstepped their usefulness.

Thanks.

 

I missed your explanation of the 100+ years of success that Maine and Vermont have enjoyed with choice.

See Lessons from Vermont 132-Year-Old Voucher Program Rebuts Critics.