Utah School Voucher Amounts: Dissecting the FUD
Opponents of Utah’s school voucher bill have ads that denounce the proposed voucher system as flawed because most of Utah’s low-income families would still not be able to afford attendance. But here’s a non-socialistic idea: why not let parents make their own financial decisions?
Even if this proposed voucher amounts weren’t enough at this very moment, I am 100% confident that the market would respond to the influx of potential cash made available by this program by lowing prices.
But the current amount is enough. The average K-8 schools is already around $4000, and Parents for Choice in Education reports that the median cost of private schools in Utah is around $4500. Beyond that, most private schools will already quietly make exceptions to their advertised prices to allow low-income families to attend, thereby subsidizing education for low-income families even further.
If that’s not proof enough, many low-income families are already making tremendous sacrifices to allow their attend privates school, and thousands more are on waiting lists. As the VCs would say, the dog is already eating the dog food. There’s no question that these low-income families would be benefited by the passing of referendum 1.
Furthermore, if the amount of money that vouchers are to provide really is too low to make a significant difference, whose fault would that be? Most pro-voucher people would probably prefer to make the voucher value as close to the $7500 we pay per public school student as possible. Instead, the average voucher scholarship will be only about $2500, and nobody will get more that $3000.
To me this is insidious; the very people who required the scholarship amount to be reduced in order for the bill to make it through the through the Utah legislature now say it’s too low to make a difference. These are the same people who would have the amount be 0. Does that seem disingenuous to anyone else?
Finally, the question begs to be asked: if the voucher amount really is so insufficient that most Utah families would have no choice but to leave their students in public schools, then why are the anti-voucher folks so worked up anyway? After all, isn’t that exactly what they want: a continuation of the status quo? They would not be fighting tooth and nail to kill this legislation if it were a moot point.
The truth is that the amount vouchers will provide is enough to make a real difference. Frankly, I wish it were more so low-income families could have even more freedom and flexibility to education their children. I wish it were more because an increase in voucher value would facilitate the creation of even more good, viable private schools. I wish it were more because good families all over Utah deserve more.
If it weren’t for the anti-voucher crowd the amount would be more, so don’t let them cloud the issue by saying that it’s not enough. That’s a FUD campaign. It’s their mechanism of creating Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt in your mind so you vote the way they want –making the voucher value essentially $0. This is political rhetoric, and frankly, I think it’s dishonest.
Hopefully voucher values will increase when the program proves successful, but we’ve got to give it that chance. In the meantime, it’s enough for the thousands of poor kids who are already on waiting lists.
Please get out and vote FOR referendum 1 to give Utah’s low-income students at least a sporting chance at freedom in education. And if you really value your freedom, grab a friend or 2 to vote with you. Polling shows the 2 sides as being neck-and-neck, so every vote really does count.
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Tags: Choice in Education, Choice in Education, Competition, Free Market, Free Markets, Freedom in Education, FUD, Informed Voters, Parental Choice, Politics, Politics, Private School, Private Schools, School Vouchers, Schools, Voting, Voucher Debates, Vouchers
November 2nd, 2007 at 12:49 pm
You want non-socialist? Then why do people who don’t have any children have to pay?
November 2nd, 2007 at 1:08 pm
Laura - I’ve already answered that question twice, as have others. Unless you come up with something new to say, please quit commenting on my blog.
November 2nd, 2007 at 3:48 pm
The reason we are so worked up by the fact that the voucher amount is not enough for a single child in our state to afford a private school on vouchers alone is because we are against subsidizing rich parents to send their kids to private schools on our dime. Our tax dollars are meant to be used to provide an educated and productive society, that is the purpose of public education. If some rich parents want to send their kids to private school then more power to them but not with our tax dollars. Voucher supporters are selling these poor parents a pipe dream, no child in this state will be able to go to a private school on vouchers alone. What we will have created is a subsidy for those that can already afford a private education, NOT WITH MY TAX DOLLARS.
Also vouchers will increase prices not decrease them - more money chasing a fixed amount of goods.
November 2nd, 2007 at 4:39 pm
First of all, this program is not for the rich. Rick folks get a maximum of $500 bucks per kid, which is nominal at best.
As for the tax implications of this law, the Utah Taxpayers Association thinks that referendum 1 is crucial for Utah’s fiscal success, and I tend to agree with them.
November 2nd, 2007 at 6:49 pm
Finally conservative’s are pro-choice! This is a miracle!
In all seriousness, referendum one diverts money away from public schools. Almost every child in this state goes to public school. Why do we want to make an already terrible school system worse? Taking money away from children who really need it is not the answer. Plus, private schools are no better then public schools in this state. We need this money to go to more teachers and smaller class sizes. This is not the way to help our children’s future or improve our schools. Vote against Referendum One!
P.S. God bless the Gunderson’s!
November 2nd, 2007 at 10:44 pm
Referendum 1 does not divert money from public schools. That’s just more FUD.
November 3rd, 2007 at 3:22 pm
Actually Referendum 1 will divert money away from public schools. The money being allocated may not be in the budget but it should be and that is the point. We could use this money to help fix our public schools. It seriously makes no sense to give up on our public school system. This money could be going to increase teacher’s pay. If we increased what teacher’s made it would be more of an incentive to go into the education field. We would get brighter and more qualified teachers. If that were the case we would also be able to reduce class sizes. Our children do not deserve to just be a number on a roll. We need to emphasize more one on one education and more time being spent on each child.
Everyone who is for referendum one wants parents and kids to have a choice. The fact is they already do have a choice. Why do tax payers have to pay for someone else’s child to go to a private school? If you want your kid to go to a private school because you think public schools are failing our children then send them. Charter’s schools are also a very affordable option for low income families who have given up on public schools. I think the problem with public schools in Utah is they are poorly funded. We are taking money away from public schools just by not using this money to improve them.
I understand the choice argument you are making. I just think it is misguided. Right now even with the poor funding we get in public schools, our kids can graduate from high school with an associate’s degree. Right now even with the poor funding we get in public schools, our kids can take Advanced Placement courses taught by teachers who are certified through local Universities. Right now even with the poor funding we get in public schools, our kids have every oppurtunity to succeed in our public schools through hard work and study.
Besides poor funding, another major problem is poor parenting. Having parents involved in a child’s education is crucial. If parents think they can just send their kid to a private school and assume their kid is doing well this is a mistake. Regardless of the school your child attends parents need to be involved and committed to their child’s education. Plus, I repeat, private schools are no better then public schools in this state.
If even one precious dollar is diverted from our public school system, which is broke down as it is, we have failed the overwhelming majority of Utah children. Yes, taking tax payer’s money to fund private schools instead of public schools is diverting money that could be used to fund our school system.
Good Night and Good Luck,
Clint.
November 4th, 2007 at 1:45 pm
@ Clint
I’ve addressed your ill-informed comment in a new post called Anti-Voucher Myths Debunked.