Vouchers Sunday, March 6th

LTE: Vouchers not the answer to better schools in Pa.

Philadelphia Tribune THURSDAY, 03 MARCH 2011 22:59

WRITTEN BY JEROME MONDESIRE & MICHAEL CHURCHILL

Jerome Mondesire is the Chairperson for the Pennsylvania Statewide NAACP. Michael Churchill is an attorney for the Public Interest Law Center of Philadelphia.

This country grew prosperous and strong by the creation of free public education for all. The strength was not only from the knowledge of its citizenry, but from the unifying effect of 12 formative years of shared experiences. The question facing us now is “Can we improve our public schools, or in trying, will we destroy them?” That issue is posed most clearly by the voucher bill (SB 1) now pending in the Pennsylvania Legislature.  Pennsylvania public schools have improved their results in the last 8 years at a rate unrivaled in any other state, in large part due to the increased investment in education in this period. Nevertheless, it still has 144 public schools, about 4 percent of the total, persistently failing to meet state and federal standards. Most of those schools are badly underfunded according to the state’s own Costing-out Study. Because Pennsylvania relies so heavily on local taxes instead of state money to fund schools, poorer communities have a difficult time providing quality schooling. The unfair disparity in available funding to help children prepare for their future truly is a civil rights issue.

http://www.phillytrib.com/tribune/tribunecommentary/17852-lte-vouchers-not-the-answer-to-better-schools-in-pa.html

VOUCHERS: School choice offers innovation and opportunity

Patriot News OP-ED BY SEN. ANTHONY HARDY WILLIAMS

Published: Sunday, March 06, 2011, 1:14 AM

 “It’s time to admit that public education operates like a planned economy, a bureaucratic system in which everybody’s role is spelled out in advance and there are few incentives for innovation and productivity. It’s no surprise that our school system doesn’t improve.”

http://www.pennlive.com/editorials/index.ssf/2011/03/vouchers_school_choice_offers.html

VOUCHERS: They are a distraction, not a solution

Patriot News OP-ED BY IAN ROSENBLUM

Published: Sunday, March 06, 2011, 1:09 AM

IAN ROSENBLUM served as Gov. Ed Rendell's last policy secretary.

Improving education is essential to getting our economy back on track. But the so-called "solution" getting all the attention - taxpayer-funded private school vouchers - doesn't measure up.

http://www.pennlive.com/editorials/index.ssf/2011/03/vouchers_they_are_a_distractio.html

School Board Discusses State Voucher Bill

State Senator Williams said Senate Bill 1 will help underprivileged students.

By Anthony Leone  Haverford Patch March 4, 2011

Parents filled up nearly every seat on Thursday night’s meeting as they listened to the Haverford School Board discuss the controversial Senate Bill 1.

http://haverford.patch.com/articles/school-board-discusses-state-voucher-bill