Dear Friends,

 

Tampa Tribune is the only remaining state paper that supports school choice. The first paper in the state to call out the ACLU and union on their hypocrisy (Vouchers Give Parents A Choice And Students An Opportunity).

 

The one remaining paper that has a reasonable position on choice (Find Compromise On School Vouchers)!

 

 

Thank you for Stepping Up For Students,

 

Michael A. Benjamin

Executive Director, F.A.C.E.

Florida Alliance for Choices in Education

ALERT

S A V E     O U R     S C H O L A R S H I P S

  

WHAT WOULD YOU DO FOR YOUR STUDENTS’ EDUCATION?

 

IS IT WORTH TAKING A STEP?

 

IS IT WORTH SPEAKING OUT FOR?

 

WOULD YOU TRAVEL?

 

WOULD RALLY WITH OTHERS?

YOU MUST.

JOIN US

TALLAHASSEE RALLY 6/7/05

On June 7, the Florida Supreme Court could rule that Opportunity Scholarships 

violate the constitution. If they do, other scholarship programs like McKay and 

Bright Futures are in danger. To prevent that from happening, we need your 

presence at our rally in front of the Supreme Court building.  Don’t let them act 

without knowing how many families it will effect!

 

May 2, 2005

Tampa Tribune

Vouchers Give Parents A Choice And Students An Opportunity

N ext month the Florida Supreme Court will hear arguments about the legality of the state's Opportunity Scholarships Program, the statewide voucher plan that allows parents of children attending failing public schools to send their kids elsewhere, including religious schools.

Lower courts have found the program violates the Florida Constitution. If that position stands, other religion- neutral initiatives that receive money from the state also could be subject to challenge.

For example, religious hospitals and medical clinics reimbursed through Medicaid could be deprived of government payments. And students on the popular Bright Futures and McKay scholarships who have the chance to choose their schools, even those with religious ties, couldn't be confident their scholarships would survive.

Upholding the lower court's decision would discriminate against religious institutions.

The justices should overturn the lower court and let the voucher program flourish.

At issue is the meaning of Article I, Section 3 of the Florida Constitution. The last sentence reads: ``No revenue of the state or any political subdivision or agency thereof shall ever be taken from the public treasury directly or indirectly in aid of any church, sect or religious denomination or in aid of any sectarian institution.''

Opponents of Florida's voucher program - primarily the teachers unions - say that because kids are using the scholarships to attend religious schools, the scholarships are ``in aid of'' religion.

But Gov. Jeb Bush and others who support the plan say that it is religion- neutral, that school vouchers are a government benefit to children, not religious institutions.

Moreover, parents, not public officials, control the payment of scholarship funds. If religious schools benefit, it is only as a result of the independent choices of the parents of eligible children.

Yet the lower court decided that under Florida's constitution, an incidental benefit to religious institutions is unconstitutional. And there's the rub that could create chaos for hospitals and other social programs. Nothing in the language or history of the provision says it applies only to schools.

It's no accident that in opposing Opportunity Scholarships, the teachers unions and the American Civil Liberties Union have been silent about these other state-supported programs.

Of the 50 states, Florida alone has given all parents, regardless of their financial means, the opportunity to remove their kids from chronically failing schools. The voucher program was enacted, apart from any religious considerations, to benefit children. It provides parents access to public and private schools, sectarian and secular. It is neutral toward religion.

It is constitutional.

This story can be found at: http://www.tampatrib.com/News/MGBH9I5558E.html

Find Compromise On School Vouchers

Legislation in the Florida House and Senate would bring much-needed accountability to the state's school voucher program.

But private school officials fear the Senate's more rigorous approach would create a bureaucratic mess. House leaders share those fears. The disagreement could lead to another stalemate on increasing standards for private schools that accept students on state vouchers.

It is important that the task get done this year. If necessary, the Senate should be willing to make some concessions.

After all, both versions of the bill call for financial audits, student documentation and employee background checks in participating schools. Both would require voucher students to take standardized tests. And both would guard against fly-by-night operations by mandating that private schools prove their financial wherewithal.

But a few Senate items trouble voucher advocates. Of particular concern is language that would allow the state to review all records of a school at any time, even if that school accepted only one voucher student. Private educators fear this could lead to arbitrary inquisitions. They say all voucher records would be readily available, and investigators can perform a sweeping audit whenever there is a suspicion of abuse.

Vouchers have generally worked well, but because the state failed to adopt sufficient oversight rules, there have been some abuses. Last summer, for instance, leaders of a Polk County Christian school were accused of fraud for accepting voucher money for students no longer in attendance.

Vouchers allow parents to choose the schools that best meet their children's needs. But, as with any government exercise, accountability is the key to success.

Both the Senate and House bills would shore up oversight, but the extra oversight sought by the Senate does not merit a showdown that would jeopardize improving standards altogether.