(Gov) Bush wants voucher measure that justices cannot reverse

[teach1st]

(Gov) Bush wants voucher measure that justices cannot reverse
St. Petersburg Times (AP), 1/24

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/F/FL_BUSH_EDUCATION_FLOL-?SITE=FLPET&SECTION=STATE&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) -- Vouchers that let parents send their children to private schools at taxpayer expense should be a "fundamental right," Gov. Jeb Bush said to applause Tuesday at a conservative education summit.

Bush told Republican lawmakers and others attending the conference that saving his school voucher program and loosening class size limits are two of his top education issue for the annual legislative session that begins March 7.

The Florida Supreme Court on Jan. 5 threw out one of three statewide voucher programs in a 5-2 vote. The majority said the Opportunity Scholarship Program violated the state Constitution's requirement for a uniform system of free public schools because it funded a private alternative.

Students from public schools deemed failing have attended private schools on the state's tab. Bush said the program has prompted such schools to improve although only about 700 students across the state participate.

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[Trillo]

1. Sounds like he wants to shred a whole branch of government.

Who's the enemy?

There is no worse "potential" enemy of children than "private schools." Just my "experience." No more, no less.

[democrat in Tallahassee]

2. only 11 more months of this ass. bye jeb, don't let the door hit you

in the ass on te way out

[AwareOne]

3. Great plan, abandon the public school system

and privatize education. If the public school system is broken, then fix it, don't walk away from it. This school voucher scheme is a religious right pay off. Vote for us Republicans and we will let you send your kids to private religious school on the FL taxpayer. And the religious schools have no state testing, no qualification standards for teachers, no curriculum requirements. Any nut job can open a "school" and get Govt. money.

[teach1st]

4. Maybe Governor Bush missed this

http://www.ncspe.org/list-papers.php

Download the report in PDF format

Charter, Private, Public Schools and Academic Achievement: New Evidence from NAEP Mathematics Data. 2006
Author: Chris Lubienski and Sarah Theule Lubienski

Common wisdom holds that private schools achieve better academic results than public schools. Assumptions of the superiority of private-style organizational models are reflected in voucher and charter programs, and in the choice provisions of the No Child Left Behind Act. However, most studies that compare achievement between private and public school students either fail to account for differences in student background characteristics or are based on assessments of students who have since graduated from high school.

This analysis compares student achievement in traditional public, private, and charter schools on the 2003 National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP) mathematics exam. Hierarchical linear modeling is used to control for demographic characteristics and school location. Findings reveal that demographic differences between students in public and private schools account for the relatively high raw scores of private schools on the NAEP. Indeed, after controlling for these differences, public school students generally score better than their private school peers.

Three other findings warrant mention. First, Lutheran schools are the highest performing private schools. Second, Conservative Christian schools, the fastest growing private school sector, are the lowest performing private schools. Third, fourth graders in charter schools scored below public school students, but eighth graders in charter schools scored above public school students. This suggests that assessments of charter schools must pay careful attention to the sample population that is being examined.

[kineneb]

6. interesting findings

Lutherans- figures... German tradition of academic excellence*
Fundies-just the opposite of Lutherans... no thinking allowed...

*My grandpa(1898-1986) was of German/Swiss (& Lutheran) ancestory...I think every one of his 9 siblings completed high school; there would have been no question of leaving early. And I was informed at a young age that I would be attending college. "You vill learn, und you vill enjoy."

[Demeter]

5. Shall We Cancel Gravity, While We're At It?

I want a pony--doesn't mean I'll ever get one.