From the Free Press Oct 31, 2024. The article is long and provides in depth information about their situation...some of which may be useful to you. LOUISVILLE, KY—More Grace Christian Academy is located inside a small, run-down church in the West End, the poorest neighborhood in the biggest city in Kentucky. In 2021, at the height of Covid school closures, Cecil Blye opened the school, named after the nearby church where he serves as pastor. There are about a dozen kids, almost all black, from first through twelfth grade. By the time most of them started at the school, Blye told me, they were at least two to three grade levels behind. He said none of their parents pay the school’s $100 … [Read more...]
Cell-Phone Free Classrooms Will Unleash Student Success?
The original article was published at Real Clear Wire Amid the many battles over how to improve American schools, it’s often forgotten that what’s taught in the classroom is but one component of ensuring that students receive a high-quality education; it’s also important to remove barriers to children’s learning. And the idea to remove one major impediment – cell phones in K-12 schools – has gained significant traction over the past year, most recently in the Commonwealth of Virginia. In July, Gov. Glenn Youngkin released an executive order addressing cell phones in K-12 classrooms – directing state officials to work with stakeholders such as parents, students, teachers, and … [Read more...]
We Have Already Passed Peak Public School
This article appeared at Reason Magazine and was partially published in one of our earlier blogs. As families continue to defect from government-managed K-12, teachers unions are tightening their squeeze on the Democratic Party. As back-to-school week wheezes into gear for the nation's 54 million or so children between the ages of five and 17, a startling, post-COVID reality is becoming more apparent, even if the implications are still too big to process. It is this: Though the U.S. population continues to grow, the number of kids attending public K-12 schools will likely never again reach its 2019 peak. The rise of homeschooling—from around 2.8 percent of the school-aged population … [Read more...]
Changing demographics impact schools
The number of children in public schools is declining. Though the U.S. population continues to grow, the number of kids attending public K-12 schools will likely never again reach its 2019 peak. The rise of homeschooling—from around 2.8 percent of the school-aged population pre-pandemic to around 5.8 percent now (reliable statistics are hard to come by)—is a chief contributor to that decline, along with ever-decreasing birth rates. Between fall of 2019 and fall of 2030, the National Center for Public Education Statistics (NCES) projected this past February, public school enrollment will decrease by 7 percent, from 50.8 million to 47.3 million. The NCES estimates that taxpayer expenditures … [Read more...]
OSPI candidates weigh in on school choice
This article was originally published at The Centersquare.com What do you want? (The Center Square) – A few days after The Seattle Times editorial board came out against school choice, or vouchers, that give families access to education funding, people – including the two candidates for superintendent of public instruction – are weighing in. Live Finne, director of the Center for Education at the Washington Policy Center, was sharply critical of The Seattle Times piece and its contention that "private or religious schools could pick the top tier students and athletes and leave the others in public schools with even fewer resources." “The research shows that applicants to … [Read more...]
Will School Choice Win Out In Tennessee? Lawmakers Have Two Weeks To Finalize ‘Education Freedom’ Act
As we've pointed out there are a number of "school choice" programs across the US and more coming. There will be a citizen referendum in Washington State coming soon so this article is timely. The original can be read at: The Daily Wire Tennessee’s Republican Governor Bill Lee is determined to make his state the latest to overhaul its education system to embrace school choice, but with a deadline to get it done just a few weeks away, several hurdles remain. With two weeks remaining before the legislative session of the Tennessee General Assembly comes to a close, lawmakers in the state House and Senate have put forward two very different versions of Lee’s proposed school choice … [Read more...]
Hoosiers Score Benefits from Private School Choice
This is going to be the first in a series of articles looking at alternative choices to public schools and outcomes. Do students going to private schools or charter schools or who are home schooled do better, worse or the same as their counterparts in public schools? We know that public schools have become more expensive that charter or private or home schools. Locally to highest spend per student in a local public school district is over $21,000/student/year. Private schools are less than 1/2 of that. Without further ado let's take a look at an article originally published in Education Next written by Patrick J. Wolf This week the sporting world turns its attention to Indiana as … [Read more...]
Charter Schools – Good or Bad?
Washington State approved the formation of charter schools in 2012 (https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/charter-schools-narrowly-win-approval-in-washington/). The approval was for up to 40 schools. What's happened since the approval? Today we bring you a information that may be useful in judging the utility and value. Where do you go to learn more about charter schools in Washington State? https://wacharters.org/ Here is a link to the 2019 Washington State Charter School Report in case you want details: WA_Statre_Charter_School_Performance_Report_2019 Why consider a Charter School? You are not happy with public schools Here are some Frequently Asked Questions and … [Read more...]
Is it time for school vouchers in Washington State?
Should parents have a choice where to send their child to K-12 school? Washington State spends (depending on the district) anywhere from slightly over $12,000/year per student to over $19,000/year per student. We have Charter Schools; Private Schools (religious and not); Home Schooling and Public Schools. There is growing use of "on-line" education as well that will likely continue to expand. Technology is driving changes in education...so do we adapt or continue to live in the past and only allow use of taxes to pay for public schools (and limited support for Charter schools)? Bye-the-way: Steve Jobes even supported school vouchers in 1995 - … [Read more...]
Charter Schools are Legal!!!
Teacher unions have been fighting charter schools in Washington State claiming use of public funds, for what the unions say are the equivalent of privates schools, is illegal. On Thursday, October 25, 2018, the Washington State Supreme Court issued their ruling. There are currently about 3400 students in 12 charter schools. The legislation allows the formation of "up to" 40 schools. What did the court conclude? (You can read the entire ruling on the following website near the bottom of their article: https://www.kuow.org/stories/washington-supreme-court-rules-on-charter-schools Charter schools CAN receive public funds Charter schools do NOT violate the State constitution The … [Read more...]