If school choice is approved, how do the children get to a school that is not in their district? Is it up to the the school system or the parents to get them to school?
In many districts, choice schools (like charter schools) will arrange for some level of transportation. Rarely will a student pick up a student at their door. Often, parents will take their child to a designated hub, and the students will board busses that will take the students to their choice school. The return trip will be back to the hub, where parents will pick their child up.
All Georgia taxpayers, please consider participating in the Georgia GOAL or Apogee programs. You can literally designate your state income tax dollars to a private school of your choice, to be given to students as need-based scholarships. Our family has participated for years, first with GOAL, then with Apogee; it's actually quite simple. The only caveat is that you prepay your taxes or a portion of your taxes and receive a credit at the end of the year. It's a phenomenal program.
Where can we get a list of the names of Republicans who are against school choice so we can start a campaign to change their views or call, email , and campaign against them in elections to get them removed.
Erick - in your first paragraph you state "Not a single student can do math on grade level". But your next sentence stated that "In 53 separate schools that collectively have thousands upon thousands of children in attendance, not a single child can read on grade level." Are you stating that none of the children in these schools can do either math or read at the proper level or are these different schools/data pulls?
I spent nearly 30 years in the DeKalb County School District (DCSD.) For most of them, I was the guy parents called to ask, "What school will my child attend?"
Quite often, the parent's response to my answer would be, "What if I don't them to go there?" Luckily, we had a few options. Sadly, most of them did not apply to most of their circumstances.
Special needs scholarships and (I believe) SB 10 came later in my career, as did Charter schools. DCSD was particularly reluctant to approve conversion charter schools (which allowed DCSD schools a bit of autonomy) as well as start-up charter schools. - which allows private entities to start their own schools.
Luckily, the legislation that allowed for charter schools allowed the state to approve charter schools, which it has done with some regularity. It also required local systems to alow start-up charters to lease any vacant builiding for $0. The charter school must maintain the building.
State money already follows the student. Local funds - which make up the lion's share of a school system''s - budget generally don't. They absolutely should.
Districts also keep local funds when parents choose to home school a student. Parents have to pay their state and local taxes, plus the expenses of home schooling.
Districts will complain that this will rob them of critical funds. But theyre not spending those funds on students who they no longer teach. As enrollments drop, state money does as well. The need for teachers will decrease, which means retiring teachers wil not be need to be replaced as often or as quickly.
The districts often want that money for bloated bureaucracies (patronage jobs?) and shear control. Starve 'em of it.
School choice is common sense….allowing students to choose a particular school, public or private. Likewise, vouchers. Likewise, charter schools.
For those who want to champion the Union and entrenched educational bureaucracies, be reminded most parents will be paying property and other taxes long before and long after their children are in school; not to mention the public cost associated with educating a child is reduced or even eliminated when parents are given other options or choose to remove their children from the public system altogether. In effect the latter group is subsidizing public education in addition to paying taxes.
The GOP’s embrace of these parental prerogatives will further strengthen its commitment to liberty and enhancing personal freedom. An issue for every school board, local government and state government election.
Our son was getting lost in the public school system, so we decided to enroll him in a private Christian school.
We were blessed that God provided a way for us to fund his education through some commissions that my husband earned from work. We also sacrificed a lot along the way. We weren't poor enough to get a scholarship, both of us worked hard, but we weren't affluent enough to afford this school. We put our trust in God, knowing this was the right thing to do.
When our son graduated, the commissions ended and we breathed a big sigh of relief.
It was a blessing to us that he was able to complete his Middle and High School there, one we will never forget.
He was challenged and encouraged by teachers that really cared about him and saw his potential and he proceeded to thrive there.
He earned a scholarship to college and graduated Magna Cum Laude in the top 10% in the country in his major.
I'll never forget something he told me when he got to college, that he was so much more prepared for college than fellow students that graduated from public school, and he was grateful for his education.
Some students thrive in public school, there are some good teachers there, and that is a fine choice for some, but needless to say others need those smaller classes, attention focused on core classes and learning, and on the student's well being. They need to have a choice. Too many get lost in the system.
I can't understand why some would stand in the way of giving them that choice. Maybe because so many of them can send their kids to private school??
Erick, now may not be the time, but at some point, if Trump’s the nominee and is able to run, I wish you’d attempt to meet with him and share your ideas and hard truths he needs to digest. It’s not about him or you, it’s about our country. Trump, if he’s the nominee, must seek advice from those who are not servile to him. He owes his country that.
One more thing: At every level, Public Sector Unions should be eliminated and made illegal. And if you work in the public sector, you should be required to send your kids to public schools.... that's dog-catcher to cop to teacher to county supervisor to US senator.
I know a lot of great teachers. The problem is that they are not allowed to really TEACH..... not like they were 30-40 years ago. It's very common to see big, new, sparkling public school facilities in rural areas where people don't have much money.... schools built with government money.... and just so long as the government curriculum (indoctrination) is implemented.
Is it any wonder why Homeschooling continues to grow in popularity?
Also, one quick correction to your post. The research showed students were not doing math at grade level. Later in your article you refer to reading levels. A slight slip, I realize. 🥰
Give it 20 or 30 years, and there won't be enough skilled technicians available to keep the lights on, clean water running from the tap, or to keep all the surveillance/compliance technology functioning.... but there will be more than enough people running around whining about "white supremacy", "systemic racism", and "the patriarchy"...
I spent 30 years teaching in public schools and none of the teachers I ever worked with tried to indoctrinate students and everyone worked very diligently to prepare their students even though they often got zero support from parents. That said, I definitely support school choice. It’s not about giving breaks to rich parents as some reports would have you think. I was a single parent of 2 living on a teacher salary. It took years to get to the point where I took home $2000/month. I taught summer school to pay the tuition to keep my kids in parochial schools. The fear that public schools would lose all of their students is unfounded. Most kids would stay right where they are and many private schools would only accept those students who worked hard and had parental support. I pray that school choice passes. It should be about the kids and not the money.
You can hit a Republican pol in the head with a winning issue and they would not see it. They would rather spend time in committee going after Hunter Biden then go after issues everyday families care about. Never doubt their ability to ignore a winning issue.
yes, the GOP on all levels seems to only be competent in one thing: snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. It's certainly not competent in most places of actual governing (people like Ron DeSantis aside).
That is why we need to have the Christian Community come together with Churches and NO "teachers union'. Then we need to ALL make donations to these schools regardless how old we are. My wife, of many years that passed away 24 years ago, and I donated to schools that were run by Christians back then and I would still be glad to today. But keep the demoflats, republicans and the stinking union our of the schools and we NEED TO MAKE OUR DONATIONS.
It's because the GOP doesn't really want to win. They would rather be the party out of power. That way, there's less criticism from the media, they don't have to really do anything, and they have an excuse when they face angry constituents at their home town halls. As long as they play ball with Democrats and don't rock the boat too much, they get invited to the best parties and let in on all the sweetheart deals to enrich themselves. Republicans like to hold office, but Democrats like to hold power. The Dems are in it to win it, at any cost. Republicans are in it to get paid.
If school choice is approved, how do the children get to a school that is not in their district? Is it up to the the school system or the parents to get them to school?
In many districts, choice schools (like charter schools) will arrange for some level of transportation. Rarely will a student pick up a student at their door. Often, parents will take their child to a designated hub, and the students will board busses that will take the students to their choice school. The return trip will be back to the hub, where parents will pick their child up.
All Georgia taxpayers, please consider participating in the Georgia GOAL or Apogee programs. You can literally designate your state income tax dollars to a private school of your choice, to be given to students as need-based scholarships. Our family has participated for years, first with GOAL, then with Apogee; it's actually quite simple. The only caveat is that you prepay your taxes or a portion of your taxes and receive a credit at the end of the year. It's a phenomenal program.
Where can we get a list of the names of Republicans who are against school choice so we can start a campaign to change their views or call, email , and campaign against them in elections to get them removed.
Erick - in your first paragraph you state "Not a single student can do math on grade level". But your next sentence stated that "In 53 separate schools that collectively have thousands upon thousands of children in attendance, not a single child can read on grade level." Are you stating that none of the children in these schools can do either math or read at the proper level or are these different schools/data pulls?
I spent nearly 30 years in the DeKalb County School District (DCSD.) For most of them, I was the guy parents called to ask, "What school will my child attend?"
Quite often, the parent's response to my answer would be, "What if I don't them to go there?" Luckily, we had a few options. Sadly, most of them did not apply to most of their circumstances.
Special needs scholarships and (I believe) SB 10 came later in my career, as did Charter schools. DCSD was particularly reluctant to approve conversion charter schools (which allowed DCSD schools a bit of autonomy) as well as start-up charter schools. - which allows private entities to start their own schools.
Luckily, the legislation that allowed for charter schools allowed the state to approve charter schools, which it has done with some regularity. It also required local systems to alow start-up charters to lease any vacant builiding for $0. The charter school must maintain the building.
State money already follows the student. Local funds - which make up the lion's share of a school system''s - budget generally don't. They absolutely should.
Districts also keep local funds when parents choose to home school a student. Parents have to pay their state and local taxes, plus the expenses of home schooling.
Districts will complain that this will rob them of critical funds. But theyre not spending those funds on students who they no longer teach. As enrollments drop, state money does as well. The need for teachers will decrease, which means retiring teachers wil not be need to be replaced as often or as quickly.
The districts often want that money for bloated bureaucracies (patronage jobs?) and shear control. Starve 'em of it.
School choice is common sense….allowing students to choose a particular school, public or private. Likewise, vouchers. Likewise, charter schools.
For those who want to champion the Union and entrenched educational bureaucracies, be reminded most parents will be paying property and other taxes long before and long after their children are in school; not to mention the public cost associated with educating a child is reduced or even eliminated when parents are given other options or choose to remove their children from the public system altogether. In effect the latter group is subsidizing public education in addition to paying taxes.
The GOP’s embrace of these parental prerogatives will further strengthen its commitment to liberty and enhancing personal freedom. An issue for every school board, local government and state government election.
Our son was getting lost in the public school system, so we decided to enroll him in a private Christian school.
We were blessed that God provided a way for us to fund his education through some commissions that my husband earned from work. We also sacrificed a lot along the way. We weren't poor enough to get a scholarship, both of us worked hard, but we weren't affluent enough to afford this school. We put our trust in God, knowing this was the right thing to do.
When our son graduated, the commissions ended and we breathed a big sigh of relief.
It was a blessing to us that he was able to complete his Middle and High School there, one we will never forget.
He was challenged and encouraged by teachers that really cared about him and saw his potential and he proceeded to thrive there.
He earned a scholarship to college and graduated Magna Cum Laude in the top 10% in the country in his major.
I'll never forget something he told me when he got to college, that he was so much more prepared for college than fellow students that graduated from public school, and he was grateful for his education.
Some students thrive in public school, there are some good teachers there, and that is a fine choice for some, but needless to say others need those smaller classes, attention focused on core classes and learning, and on the student's well being. They need to have a choice. Too many get lost in the system.
I can't understand why some would stand in the way of giving them that choice. Maybe because so many of them can send their kids to private school??
The issue of achool choice is a no-brainer.
Any Republican that doesn't support/vote for it proves they have no brain.
Erick, now may not be the time, but at some point, if Trump’s the nominee and is able to run, I wish you’d attempt to meet with him and share your ideas and hard truths he needs to digest. It’s not about him or you, it’s about our country. Trump, if he’s the nominee, must seek advice from those who are not servile to him. He owes his country that.
One more thing: At every level, Public Sector Unions should be eliminated and made illegal. And if you work in the public sector, you should be required to send your kids to public schools.... that's dog-catcher to cop to teacher to county supervisor to US senator.
I know a lot of great teachers. The problem is that they are not allowed to really TEACH..... not like they were 30-40 years ago. It's very common to see big, new, sparkling public school facilities in rural areas where people don't have much money.... schools built with government money.... and just so long as the government curriculum (indoctrination) is implemented.
Is it any wonder why Homeschooling continues to grow in popularity?
Also, one quick correction to your post. The research showed students were not doing math at grade level. Later in your article you refer to reading levels. A slight slip, I realize. 🥰
Give it 20 or 30 years, and there won't be enough skilled technicians available to keep the lights on, clean water running from the tap, or to keep all the surveillance/compliance technology functioning.... but there will be more than enough people running around whining about "white supremacy", "systemic racism", and "the patriarchy"...
I spent 30 years teaching in public schools and none of the teachers I ever worked with tried to indoctrinate students and everyone worked very diligently to prepare their students even though they often got zero support from parents. That said, I definitely support school choice. It’s not about giving breaks to rich parents as some reports would have you think. I was a single parent of 2 living on a teacher salary. It took years to get to the point where I took home $2000/month. I taught summer school to pay the tuition to keep my kids in parochial schools. The fear that public schools would lose all of their students is unfounded. Most kids would stay right where they are and many private schools would only accept those students who worked hard and had parental support. I pray that school choice passes. It should be about the kids and not the money.
You can hit a Republican pol in the head with a winning issue and they would not see it. They would rather spend time in committee going after Hunter Biden then go after issues everyday families care about. Never doubt their ability to ignore a winning issue.
yes, the GOP on all levels seems to only be competent in one thing: snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. It's certainly not competent in most places of actual governing (people like Ron DeSantis aside).
That is why we need to have the Christian Community come together with Churches and NO "teachers union'. Then we need to ALL make donations to these schools regardless how old we are. My wife, of many years that passed away 24 years ago, and I donated to schools that were run by Christians back then and I would still be glad to today. But keep the demoflats, republicans and the stinking union our of the schools and we NEED TO MAKE OUR DONATIONS.
It's because the GOP doesn't really want to win. They would rather be the party out of power. That way, there's less criticism from the media, they don't have to really do anything, and they have an excuse when they face angry constituents at their home town halls. As long as they play ball with Democrats and don't rock the boat too much, they get invited to the best parties and let in on all the sweetheart deals to enrich themselves. Republicans like to hold office, but Democrats like to hold power. The Dems are in it to win it, at any cost. Republicans are in it to get paid.
it's easier to grift when you're not in power.
Absolutely. When you're not in power, you're more "under the radar", so to speak.
And in the process reduce the Democrat donations from the unions... win win. Kids learn, democrats and unions get less funding