Rachel Ricci
10/28/12
Fundamentals of Curriculum
The Debate Over School
Place of residency has long been the determining factor of the public school education a child would receive unless a family chose to pay and send their child to a private school. Since tax money funds public education, parents who send their children to private schools pay for both public and private education. This has created a contentious debate in education. Should you be able to take your tax money and spend it where you want to spend it whether it be in a public, parochial, in district, private or charter school? The Interdistrict Public School Choice Program Act of 2010 18A:36B now allows families the opportunity to choose the school their child will attend outside of their geographic location with certain conditions applying. An overview of school choice and vouchers will be discussed, as well as, the support and criticisms that go along with this change in educational choice.
School choice gives parents the opportunity to choose the school their child will attend. School choice does not give preference to any one form of school. It is used when a student attends a school outside of their geographic default. School choice allows for public funds to go to privately running schools. A student therefore could attend a public, private, parochial or charter school or receive a voucher or tax credit for expenses related to schooling. Private education is not then expensed out of the parent’s pocket, but paid for through the use of vouchers that are funded publicly.
In 2010 a new law was passed called the Interdistrict Public School Choice Program. This law enables parents of children of school age to go to a school outside their district of residency if the selected school is participating in the choice program. New Jersey
Any NJ resident student is eligible to take advantage of this program, regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, economic status, academic potential, athletic ability and or handicap. The parent must submit an application to the sending school district with their interest in a choice school. The number of openings is set by school choice at each grade level and if there are more students requesting admission to a school than there are openings, the school will admit students based on a lottery. Transportation, up to twenty miles and costing no more than eight hundred and eighty four dollars, will be provided to a student going to a choice school. Any transportation outside of the twenty miles of allowed money amount will need to be provided for by the parent. If the parent chooses to transport their child, he or she will receive eight hundred and eighty four dollars in aid. An annual report to the State Board of Education, the Legislature and the Joint Committee will be made by the Commissioner. That report must include the effectiveness of the interdistrict public school choice program. That report will be made available on the Department of Education’s website.
A school voucher is a certificate issued by the government, which parents can apply toward tuition at a private school or for reimbursement of home schooling. Parents accept the vouchers in lieu of sending their child to the public school to which their child is assigned. A parent may also choose to use an education tax credit to apply toward educational costs of a private school. School choice and the use of vouchers to fund private education has become the new buzz in education and the Interdistrict Public School Choice Program has enacted this into current law. There has been public support and opposition for this new law. Supporters see opportunity for choice in education whereas critics see a weakening of the public school system. Both sides of the argument will be reviewed.
Vouchers and school choice give more control to the parents in educational decision making. Parents want what is best for their children and are paying for public education, and should therefore have influence in educational decision making. Supporters of school choice and vouchers feel that public schools could use some competition in order to raise their efficiency. Public schools will have to compete with private schools for student enrollment by improving test scores and overall wellness. Supporters feel good schools will prosper whereas poor performing schools will be forced to improve or shut down. School choice allows low income children in poor performing schools the opportunity to attend private schools.
The use of vouchers and school choice would take away funding to the public schools. Opponents of school choice argue the public school system would be weakened by diverting resources to non public schools. In most cases, vouchers would only cover the cost of a portion of private school tuition. Would low income families then be able to afford the remainder of the private school tuition? If not, then private schools would still be out of reach for low income families. Opponents argue that parents may be choosing schools for the wrong reasons. Parents may choose a school on racial composition. School choice, therefore, could lead to segregation.
Valid arguments have been presented on both sides of school choice and vouchers. Whether you are a supporter or not, charter schools are popping up in New Jersey New Jersey
Internet References for Additional Information
2. School Choice Overview: http://www.state.nj.us/education/choice/
3. Interdistrict Public School
5. Transportation Information: http://www.state.nj.us/education/finance/transportation/procedures/
6. Approved Choice Districts in NJ: http://www.state.nj.us/education/choice/districts/
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