Sorry that this is so late…I meant to post it yesterday but mislaid it:
Get the Best Research on Vouchers
Efforts to shift public dollars from public schools to private voucher schools has momentum in our state and will likely have significant ramifications for professional educators.
Please join UWM’s Urban Studies Programs for the 7th annual Henry W. Maier State of Milwaukee Summit. This year’s topic is “Life After Vouchers: Expansion, Accountability & Outcomes.” A distinguished panel will discuss new research on the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program, the recent expansion of school vouchers statewide, and legislative efforts to create accountability measures for all schools that receive public funding. A reception will follow the panel discussion and Q&A. The event is free and open to the public and is part of USP’s 50th anniversary year. For a full list of 50th anniversary events, please go to www.usp50.uwm.edu
What? Henry W. Maier State of Milwaukee Summit, “Life After Vouchers: Expansion, Accountability & Outcomes”
Who? Confirmed panelists are Dr. Deven Carlson (University of Oklahoma); Dr. Lora Warner (UW-Green Bay); and Dr. Mike Ford (UW-Oshkosh). Moderated by Alan Borsuk (Marquette University/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
When? Thursday, November 14th, 3:30 pm – 6:30 pm
Where? Edith S. Hefter Conference Center, 3271 N. Lake Drive, Milwaukee WI, http://www4.uwm.edu/sce/cs_hefter.cfm
The Maier Summit is free and open to the public. For special accommodations please contact Carrie Beranek (414-229-4751 beranekc@uwm.edu)
Hate that title “Life after Vouchers.” Elect Kathleen Vinehout Wisconsin’s next Governor and you will see voucher supported charter schools fade from the scene like the April snows.
My take on vouchers is that now that we have them now so lets have the same standards for everybody. Professional educations need to meet the same requirements either at a voucher school or public school, in addition to voucher schools accepting the handicap students that public schools already accept. I also believe local school districts should gain authority on authorizing vouchers to students in their district and vouchers should be paid for as a line item on local property taxes. Abolishing vouchers maybe be a good place for teachers unions to be but its not a good place for Democratic candidates for office to be.
You may be right, AJ.
In any case there will have to be a bureaucracy involved making the pay or not decisions. I have preferred and recommended tax credits for parents whose children didn’t get their education in public schools.
For over 40 years, I’ve actually given presentations on this. Nobody wanted to listen. So now the government is trying it with health care reform.
But corporations are moving ahead to privatize public education with little resistance except from the teachers, still opposed to the tax credits.
The fact that we have vouchers and the private schools getting the voucher money are open to being discriminatory based on age, gender, religion, past student behavior, athletic ability, and academic ability, with no local control, is bunch of Republican malarkey.
Indeed, it is a travesty. Especially when you consider that this money is coming directly from the public school funds that have already been reduced several years in a row.
No ifs, ands, or buts, the taxpayer cannot bear the burden of supporting two school systems; one public, the other a private or voucher school.
A school district cannot finance and maintain a duplication of fixed costs such as a building and the costs associated with it; e.g., electricity, heat, water, janitorial, repair, security, insurance, transportation, computers, labs, sports program, phone and internet, separate staff of a principal, nurse, clerical workers, and other fixed costs.
Do the math; it’s unsustainable !!!