Vouchers for parents of youngsters in public schools
At the primary and secondary school levels public education in
California has become so bureaucratic that its existence needs to
be questioned. Public education, as it was come to be, may in fact
be an artifact of the twentieth century. There is certainly very little
parental choice and involvement. An adjustment to the tax code
will introduce market forces and lead to a brighter California in just
a few years.
There are some 5.8 million youngsters in our state's public schools
at these grade levels. To the parents of two million youngsters I will
offer a voucher to leave the public school system and enroll their
young scholar in a private school. If the youngster is going into one
of the primary grades, the voucher would be worth as much as
$3,500.00. If the school charges less than this value, the voucher
will be made out for the smaller amount; if the school charges
more than this, the parents will be on their own. These vouchers
will be made out to the parents and to the school. Should the
youngster and the school go their separate ways for any reason,
any refund would be payable to the State of California. The
schools may be asked to send a copy of the youngster's report
card to Sacramento.
These vouchers are not intended to be a one-time payment. As
long as the student is making academic progress, these vouchers
will be renewable each year through high school graduation.
For the four years of high school these vouchers will be set at
$5,000.00, or less of course if the school of choice charges a
lesser amount. These vouchers will be made out to the student, the
parents, and the school. There should be lots of interested parties
in every youngster's quality education.
California's budget allots $8,500.00 each for the first twelve years
of public education. If the parents of two million youngsters make
this switch and accept this direct funding mechanism, the state's
budget deficit is reduced by $9 billion. Every year. (Since there are
twice as many primary school grades as there are secondary
school grades, the $3,500.00 and the $5,000.00 average out to
$4,000.00. The state saves $4,500.00 for each student that
transfers, the parents have educational funding choice, and the
next generation of Californians have real educational
opportunities before them.)
If I become governor this funding choice will be offered to all the
parents of youngsters in public school as soon as possible. When
and if all the parents and all the youngsters leave the public school
system, under this funding mechanism the state would save $26.1
billion every year. This will come close to balancing the budget
and should eliminate the education deficit that has been
burdening California for years.
It should be realized that with these changes the number of
schools, class rooms, desks, and students in the Golden State will
not change. Tax dollars will now be in the hands of the parents,
and they will certainly get value for their vouchers. Market forces
will be at work.
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