The Senate’s chance to help kids in failing public schools

https://nypost.com/2017/11/19/the-senates-chance-to-help-kids-in-failing-public-schools/ ^ | Nov 19, 2017 | Post Editorial Board

[Oshkalaboomboom]

The House’s just-passed tax plan would help parents find alternatives to failing public schools by expanding the 529 college-savings program to private K-12 schools. But the Senate has yet to commit to the idea.

If senators want to help parents and kids, they’ll get on board — pronto.

As of now, parents can sock away just $2,000 a year for K-12 private school and have it grow tax-free, through Coverdell Education Savings Accounts. The House plan would scrap the Coverdells but allow 529s (the similarly tax-free savings plan meant for college costs) to also be used for private elementary- and high-school tuition.

But parents would be able to save as much $10,000 a year from their 529 accounts.

For folks searching for a way for their kids to escape failing public schools, this can be a big help. At the same time, the revenue Uncle Sam would lose by expanding 529s, about $600 million over 10 years, is small potatoes compared to the tax-cut plan’s $1.5 trillion 10-year price tag.

Bottom line: The idea offers a bit more help for parents at little cost. And it could help shake up the sclerotic, union-dominated government education monopoly.

[Oshkalaboomboom]

The idea that the Senate hasn't committed to yet is the idea that Trump won and now they actually have to govern rather than engage in personality battles. Hurt feelings is not a good reason to vote down bills.

[Cowboy Bob]

Public education hit the skids when Liberals got involved in it.

Liberalism destroys everything it touches.

[Puzzleman]

The answer to the nation’s education problem is school choice.

[FES0844]

End common core.

[DoodleDawg]

I’m guessing that families living in neighborhoods with failing public grade and high schools are not in a position to put $10000 a year into a 529.

[Arthur McGowan]

Checking the Constitution for “savings accounts for education” and “medical savings accounts,” and a bunch of other ideas I keep hearing about on Sean Hannity.

[Arthur McGowan]

“Public education” IS socialism. It was always atheist, anti-family, and anti-freedom. It was always intended to produce godless, illiterate slaves.

There never was a time when liberals didn’t run it.

And it was imposed on the U.S., county by county, from about 1840 to 1918, at the point of a gun.

[John 3_19-21]

"And it could help shake up the sclerotic, union-dominated government education monopoly."

This is exactly why the deep state senate will not let this become law.

[wintertime]

Public education from the very beginning was a liberal idea.

Progressives pushed the idea of socialist-entitlement schools in 19th century.

Progressives have from the beginning controlled teacher training and curriculum development.

Progressives have from the beginning pushed for increasing amounts of secularization and by the 60s the schools were completely godless in their worldview.

It only took one to three generations of socialist entitlement schools to give the nation Woodrow Wilson and two Roosevelts.

[wintertime]

Choice would mean an immediate end to Commie Core.

[bgill]

How about we end all these credits and exemptions and pay a straight tax.