K-12 enrollment is on the decline between a combination of dropping birth rates and more school choice options, putting schools in a tight bind. The public school system is expected to see a drop of millions of students over the next five years, a hit that will affect schools financially and potentially lead to the closure of more districts. Ways to combat this phenomenon are limited, as experts say schools will have to look at scaling down operations or competing with other educational institutions. From fall 2019 to fall 2023, a 2.5 percent drop in enrollment occurred, taking more than a million kids out of the K-12 system. The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) projects … [Read more...]
South Carolina Court Strips Families of Educational Freedom
Today's article will be interesting to those of you who follow school voucher programs. The concept has been advancing nationally but is fought tooth and nail by teachers unions. The original article was published in the Daily Signal. South Carolina dad David Warner is afraid to tell his sixth-grade son that he will have to leave his school, teachers, and friends because the state Supreme Court struck down the Palmetto State’s school voucher program. “Today definitely felt like a kick in the stomach,” Warner said. The Warner family was using an education savings account to send their son to a private, Christian school this year. But after the South Carolina Supreme Court on … [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...]
Education choice receives majority support in BSU Idaho Public Policy Survey
For those of you watching the national movement to school choice (money follows the child so parents have a choice where K-12 education occurs) you may want to review this article from the Mountain States Policy Org. The information is for our next door neighbor...Idaho. A new poll by Boise State University shows public support for increasing education choice options in Idaho. These results are similar to a 2022 poll conducted by MSPC. Here is the question BSU asked: The wording of this question is interesting. The current refundable tax credit proposal under consideration in Idaho does not remove funding from the K-12 budget. Idaho State Representative Wendy … [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...]
Learning Pods? Pandemic Pods? What are they and will they work for you?
Learning pods? Pandemic pods? Micro Schools? What are they and will they fill your need for education in your K-12 student(s)? Are they really just a variant of homeschooling? Covid didn't cause the creation of the concept but has hastened the examination and adoption. Apparently the concept started as Micro Schools at: http://microschoolcoalition.com/ The book that is the basis for the movement is: Creating Micro-Schools for Colorful Mismatched Kids: A Step-by-Step Process that Empowers Frustrated Parents to Innovate Education Pods can be a group of parents who hire a teacher to work with a small number of students (generally similar ages). It can also be a collective of parents who … [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...]
Study: Obama’s Common Core ‘Worst Large-Scale Educational Failure in 40 Years’?
In an article at a site called Neon Nettle they share information from a study.The gist of the studies findings? "Researchers, who conducted a study into the impact of former President Obama's Common Core State Standards on schools, declared the teaching practices to be "worst large-scale educational failure in 40 years." For your reading pleasure here's the article: The study examined the effects of Common Core on school choice and found the Obama-era K-12 educational reform demonstrated sharp drops in academic performance. Ted Rebarber of AccountabilityWorks co-authored the study with Cato Institute’s Neal McCluskey, who previously led another study, titled … [Read more...]