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Vouchers

All articles tagged with #vouchers

education2 years ago

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee's Bold Plan: Expanding School Choice Statewide

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee is set to propose legislation for a new statewide school voucher program, offering $7,075 in state funds to 20,000 students to attend a private or home school of their choice starting in the 2024-25 school year. The program aims to expand eligibility to all Tennessee students by 2025. Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, who implemented a similar policy in her state, will join Lee in announcing the proposal. Critics argue that the program devalues public education, while supporters believe it provides parents with more educational options.

via Tennessean|
#education#private-schools#school-choice
education2 years ago

"Texas Republicans Divided on School Vouchers as Rural Opposition Grows"

All but two members of Bexar County's Texas House delegation voted in favor of an amendment to strip language regarding education savings accounts (ESAs) from a larger public education funding bill, effectively shutting down the creation of a state ESA program. ESAs would have provided taxpayer money for students to pay for private school tuition or other education-related expenses. The amendment's approval sends the bill back to committee, leaving its future uncertain. Governor Greg Abbott, who supports using taxpayer money for private school tuition, has stated that he plans to call lawmakers back for additional special sessions until an ESA program is approved.

via San Antonio Report|
#education#education-savings-accounts#private-schooling
opinion2 years ago

"Controversial School Choice Sellout Sparks Budget Impasse in Pennsylvania"

In an opinion piece, the author criticizes Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro for his veto of a school choice bill that would have provided vouchers for low-income students to attend private schools. The author argues that Shapiro's decision is a betrayal of his previous support for school choice and highlights the negative impact it will have on disadvantaged students who are trapped in underperforming schools.

via The Wall Street Journal|
#education#josh-shapiro#opinion
politics2 years ago

Ohio State Budget Deal: Universal Vouchers Replace Higher Ed Funding

Ohio lawmakers have reached a deal on the state budget, allocating nearly $190 billion over the next two fiscal years. The budget includes income tax cuts, universal vouchers for K-12 students, a ban on flavored vaping products, and increased spending for public schools. However, plans to change how public universities operate and increase public school funding were removed. The budget also includes provisions for a "free speech institute" at five public universities, restrictions on mandatory diversity training at colleges, and evaluation of professors for creating "classrooms free from bias." Additionally, the budget includes tax cuts, a new sales tax holiday, and parental consent requirements for social media accounts for children. Some proposed changes to social services, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, were eliminated from the final budget. Senate Democrats voted against the budget, citing concerns about leaving behind vulnerable populations.

via The Columbus Dispatch|
#education#ohio#politics
education2 years ago

PA Governor Faces Pressure on Education Funding and School Choice

A coalition with wealthy backers is pushing Pennsylvania lawmakers to use public dollars to create tuition vouchers so K-12 students can attend private schools, an idea Gov. Josh Shapiro’s administration has reiterated that he’s on board with, to the dismay of many of his fellow Democrats. Private school voucher proposals have proliferated in legislatures across the country in recent years, and as Pennsylvania’s June 30 budget deadline approaches, supporters in the commonwealth hope to wrap the measure into the budget deal.

via Spotlight PA|
#democrats#education#education-funding
politics2 years ago

NC Governor declares 'state of emergency' for public education due to GOP policies.

North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper has declared a "state of emergency for public education," citing smaller raises for teachers, a cut in state revenue, and the expansion of private-school vouchers as significant problems. The Senate's budget gives teachers a 4.5% raise over the next two years and plans to cut personal and corporate income tax rates, making the personal rate 4.5% by 2024, which Cooper cited primarily as a "tax break for millionaires." The House had suggested 10.2% raises for teachers in the biennium, and Cooper had pushed for 18% in the budget concept he provided earlier in the spring.

via WGHP FOX8 Greensboro|
#education#north-carolina#politics
education2 years ago

Texas Legislature Continues Battle Over School Choice and Education Funding

The Texas House voted 86-52 to amend the budget to ban state funding for "school vouchers or other similar programs," a move that Governor Greg Abbott has been fighting against. Despite the setback, Abbott remains optimistic and plans to continue pushing for education savings accounts. The amendment is expected to be stripped by the Senate before the final budget is passed, but the vote illustrates how the House may vote on the issue when similar legislation comes to their chamber.

via The Texas Tribune|
#education#governor-greg-abbott#legislative-session
education2 years ago

Florida Legislature Approves Major School Voucher Expansion.

Florida's Republican-controlled Senate has passed a bill that would expand the state's school-choice programs, making all students eligible for taxpayer-backed vouchers. The measure, which has already been passed by the House, would remove income-eligibility requirements that are part of current voucher programs. The bill includes a tiered "priority" system for students to receive vouchers. Students whose household incomes are less than 185% of the federal poverty level would get first priority. The bill also includes the creation of "education savings accounts," allowing recipients to spend funds on a range of purchases beyond private-school tuition.

via WJXT News4JAX |
#education#education-savings-accounts#florida
education2 years ago

Florida Senate Approves Universal School Choice and Voucher Expansion Bill for DeSantis

The Florida Senate has passed a bill that would make state-funded vouchers for students universal by removing income caps for eligibility to education savings accounts. If signed into law, parents who are eligible for the program will get $8,000 toward education-related expenses including tuition at private schools, homeschooling, tutoring, materials and fees for standardized tests. The vouchers will roll out over time with low- and middle- income families prioritized. Florida is the fourth state legislature to pass universal school choice in 2023 and would be the sixth to enact school choice for all families in just two years.

via Fox News|
#education#education-savings-accounts#florida
education2 years ago

The Battle Over School Choice in Texas

Republicans in Texas and nationwide are pushing legislation that would siphon money from public education under the banner of “parents’ rights.” These plans, commonly known as vouchers, would give parents the money the state would have spent educating their children in public schools and allow them to put it toward homeschooling expenses, private school tuition or college savings accounts. Officials in rural communities warn these policies will chip away at already razor-thin public school budgets. Rural districts could see their funding cut in two ways: either as a result of losing local students directly to vouchers, or as a result of the overall pot of state funds being diluted to cover private and homeschooling expenses of students in far-away cities and suburbs, leaving less per-student funding for every district.

via NBC News|
#education#private-school-choice#public-education
education2 years ago

Florida House approves massive school voucher expansion, hailed by experts as a step towards universal school choice.

The Republican-led Florida House of Representatives passed legislation making state-funded vouchers for students universal, expanding parents' access to education savings accounts by removing income caps for eligibility. The bill aims to provide all qualifying students with a voucher of about $8,000 for tuition at eligible private schools or for other education-related costs such as homeschooling, tutoring, materials, and fees for standardized tests. The Senate version of the bill advanced out of the Appropriations Committee this week and will soon head to the floor for a vote.

via Fox News|
#education#education-savings-accounts#florida
education2 years ago

Kansas Republicans push through controversial school choice bill.

The Kansas House of Representatives passed legislation to create vouchers for students, allowing families with participating children about $5,000 per student to be used for private school tuition, tutoring, textbooks, educational therapies, online learning programs, school supplies and more. The Sunflower Education Equity Act will have a slow rollout starting with some students being eligible for the 2024-2025 school year, including public school students who have low state test scores and those who qualify for lunch assistance programs. Up to 2,000 private school students whose families earn 300% of the federal poverty line or less will also be eligible.

via Fox News|
#education#education-savings-accounts#kansas