One of Governor Bill Lee’s top priorities this legislative session was his desire to double the number of those receiving the $7300 vouchers for students moving from public to private schools. 20,000 were eligible last year, and he wanted to increase that number to 40,000. The plan is now moving forward but will be limited to 35,000 students. The vast majority of those will still be those already enrolled in private schools by some estimates as many as 80%. And rural communities that have no private schools will continue to be left out of the game. Worse yet, we still have no evidence that the program is producing better academic achievement among those receiving the money.
Advocates point out that the program is immensely popular as evidenced by so many people are clamoring to get the free money. Surprise, people like free stuff. And most all of that money is going to the larger and wealthier counties in the state, you know, where political donors reside getting some judgment and are now getting money for their children that we’re already enrolled in private schools.
The voucher program that passed last year includes a hold harmless provision that ensures school districts won’t lose money under the state’s per-pupil funding formula if students disenroll from public schools. The provision set a funding floor guaranteeing districts the same state allocation that they received the previous year, regardless of enrollment changes. Keep in mind at some school districts already received less than the $7300 voucher amount in state funding, with Williamson County schools among them.
The newest amendment to the plan clarifies that the state will maintain the funding rate only for students who leave due to the private school tuition program, and not for any other kind of attrition, such as graduation, moving to a different public school, etc.
The legislature has been considering adding an additional provision requiring documentation from students receiving the vouchers to document that they were legally in the US. That provision has now been dropped in the House version.
Last year, public school teachers were placated to avoid their opposition with a one time bonus payment. That payment is not included in this year‘s funding structure.
The Legislature is expected to adjourn in just a few weeks. Then they can get back to their top priority this year, raising money for their reelection campaigns, which is not allowed during the session.
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