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Home > Blogs > Get on the Bus > Archives > 2009 > May > 13 > Entry
Speaking of vouchers …
Earlier this week, I was writing about the debate over vouchers in Washington, D.C. Let’s not forget that we also have a huge and nationally important voucher program right here in Ohio — and Dayton, naturally, is a key player in this school choice program too.
In today’s paper, Tony Gottschlich reports voucher applications are up statewide. There are now more than 13,000 voucher applicants, very close to the state cap of 14,000 vouchers.
There are a lot of questions about this program, which now ranks as the second biggest voucher program in the country behind one in Milwaukee, and the only statewide program of its size.
First of all, Gov. Ted Strickland is a voucher skeptic. While he’s not advocating killing the program, it’s hard to imagine him advocating for its expansion if the cap is reached next year.
Then there is the question of accountability. Strickland has demanded more of it for vouchers, proposing that schools taking kids be required to test all their students with state exams so the quality of those schools can be compared to the public schools the kids left behind. This, by the way, is an idea we endorsed on the editorial pages. It’s a good plan to for the state to be able to compare scores and decide if it is getting its money’s worth.
Ohio should be studying vouchers carefully. It’s got enough kids using them now to begin to ask whether the program works to help kids in low-rated schools do better with a private education, and if there is enough achievement to justify the cost. Strickland’s accountability plan would be a good step in the right direction.
Things will come to a head on this issue soon. When Ohio reaches its cap, voucher supporters will clamor to raise the limit. This will force the question about whether the program works. In Milwaukee, there was intense pressure to expand vouchers, which eventually was done. But there 15 percent of the city’s kids were using vouchers. The pressure here won’t be as concentrated, but it will be statewide and in Democratic stronghold urban centers. It should be interesting to see how it plays out.
Permalink | Comments (3) | Post your comment | Categories: Charter Schools and School Choice
Comments
By Oldprof
May 14, 2009 9:08 AM | Link to this
Again a public education program with no accountability. Well, let’s just impose all public-school regulations on any private school that takes a voucher and we will effectively destroy private schools.By Jammin
May 14, 2009 6:43 AM | Link to this
The voucher program does nothing but take $$ away from the school districts that need money the most.By TRS
May 13, 2009 11:20 PM | Link to this
Kind of a fundamental question - if the public schools were doing such a great job why are there so many applications for Charters?