Indiana General Assembly to public schools: Drop dead

[Hannah Bell]

The House had already given final approval today to House Bill 1002, which greatly expands the number of entities that can sponsor charter schools. Then it approved House Bill 1003, creating the most extensive private-school voucher program in the country.

The votes were 61-34 for the charter-schools bill and 56-43 for the voucher bill. You have to wonder what was said behind closed doors in a House GOP caucus to persuade sensible, moderate Republicans – and there are a few – to vote for the voucher bill. (Four Republicans did vote no).

HB 1002 expands sponsorship of charter schools to private colleges and universities and a state charter board, while adding some accountability measures. It also provides mechanisms for charter schools to take over unused or under-used facilities that were built for students of traditional public schools.

HB 1003, the voucher bill, on the other hand, is pure politics – a bailout for religious schools and a payoff for wealthy free-market ideologues who bankrolled House Republican candidates. The bill provides state-funded tuition subsidies for parents who transfer their children from public schools to private schools. Families whose income is nearly three times the poverty rate can qualify.

http://inschoolmatters.wordpress.com/2011/04/28/indiana-general-assembly-to-public-schools-drop-dead/#more-2290