A sure way to destroy public education: give taxpayer money to the parents not schools.

[madfloridian]

And let the parents use it to send their kids to private school or even to home school them.

This is SB 302 which is happening in Nevada.

Nevada parents to get unprecedented school choice

But parents will be allowed to homeschool and receive the funding, said Anderson, questioning whether parents are skilled in making the right choices for curriculum and instruction.

......Here's how the private school payments would work:

•Parents must enter into a written agreement with the Nevada State Treasurer.

•The money would then be deposited in an education savings account created by the parent for their child to attend a "participating entity" instead of their usual public schools.

•Anyone can become a participating entity by submitting an application to the state demonstrating that they are a private school, accredited tutor or "the parent of a child."

•The money must be spent on tuition, class fees, textbooks, tutoring or taking tests for Advanced Placement courses, college entry or government requirement, such as Nevada's standardized tests.

From The Desert Beacon in August:

Now, A Warning? SB 302 and the Privatization of NV Public Schools

It’s not like we weren’t warned. Nevada’s SB 302, the notorious ESA, is a give-away to the few at the educational expense of the many. State Senator Scott Hammond’s privatization bill is a GOP wet dream. It passed the Republican controlled Assembly on a 25-17 vote, and the Republican controlled Senate by 11-8. [NVLeg] Nevada Senators Atkinson, Denis, Ford, Kihuen, Manendo, Parks, Spearman, and Woodhouse had the foresight to vote “no.” They were right. The law is not getting rave reviews:

“The ESA law requires the “statewide average basic support per pupil” — $5,100 per student and $5,710 for low-income, and students with disabilities — be deposited into each ESA from local district budgets, a process that will divert, over time, substantial resources from the public schools. Studies have shown that Nevada substantially underfunds K-12 public education. For example, calculations by the Guinn Center show that Nevada K-12 funding is over $3,000 per pupil, or $1.5 billion, below the amount determined adequate by a 2015 education cost study. A recent ENN analysis shows that, even after the Legislature increased funding in the biennium budget, most Nevada school districts, including Clark County, are once again facing shortfalls in their operating budgets for the 2015-16 school year.” [EJO]

But, but, but… “we increased funding for education…” Yes, I could opine that if I gave nothing to charity last year and a dollar this year then my charity went up by 100%. That doesn’t mean that the funding was adequate in the first place. Nor does the law pass the Golden Rule Test: Do the Greatest Good for the Greatest Number.

No matter what one's view is of public education, charter schools, private schools, or home schools......in the long run this is the defunding of public education.

It is the destruction of public schools. And when the charter and private schools won't keep the kids who don't excel, when the parents decide home schooling is not for them.....I just wonder what quality public schools will be left for them.

[Nevernose]

1. What people have already attempted:

Put their kids in school for 100 days, withdraw the kid, collect five grand, use the money for meth and/or gambling.

Fortunately the whole program is on hold pending a slew of lawsuits, not the least of which is that the law violates numerous sections of both the state and federal constitutions.

The real bullshit behind this? It was a compromise: the Republicans allow a business tax (Nevada still has the lowest tax rates in the nation) funding education, but Democrats had to allow the most expansive voucher bill ever. The Dems assumed it would get struck down in court; they were gambling.

[madfloridian]

2. Thank you. Glad to hear it's on hold.

I didn't think it started until January, so glad to hear that. When will Democrats learn that compromise is not always the way to go...we have been compromising since the 80s and look who controls congress.

You said:

The real bullshit behind this? It was a compromise: the Republicans allow a business tax (Nevada still has the lowest tax rates in the nation) funding education, but Democrats had to allow the most expansive voucher bill ever. The Dems assumed it would get struck down in court; they were gambling.