Louisiana is embarking on the nation's boldest experiment in privatizing public education, with the state preparing to shift tens of millions in tax dollars out of the public schools to pay private industry, businesses owners and church pastors to educate children.
Starting this fall, thousands of poor and middle-class kids will get vouchers covering the full cost of tuition at more than 120 private schools across Louisiana, including small, Bible-based church schools.
The following year, students of any income will be eligible for mini-vouchers that they can use to pay a range of private-sector vendors for classes and apprenticeships not offered in traditional public schools. The money can go to industry trade groups, businesses, online schools and tutors, among others.
Every time a student receives a voucher of either type, his local public school will lose a chunk of state funding.
"We are changing the way we deliver education," said Governor Bobby Jindal, a Republican who muscled the plan through the legislature this spring over fierce objections from Democrats and teachers unions. "We are letting parents decide what's best for their children, not government."
More @ Reuters
If this were to become the model, there might possibly be hope for public funded schooling.
ReplyDeleteWon't amount to a hill of beans unless the teachers' unions are taken out at the same time.
ReplyDeleteStill great news of a good start - I just hope they had sense enough to do the WHOLE "right thing"!!
Yes, promising and may the teacher's unions go the way of big labor in Wisconsin last night.
ReplyDelete