{"id":2042230,"date":"2023-09-23T04:18:02","date_gmt":"2023-09-23T08:18:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/in-depth-school-choice-debate-boils-down-to-taxpayer-dollars\/"},"modified":"2023-09-23T04:25:25","modified_gmt":"2023-09-23T08:25:25","slug":"in-depth-school-choice-debate-boils-down-to-taxpayer-dollars","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/in-depth-school-choice-debate-boils-down-to-taxpayer-dollars\/","title":{"rendered":"School choice debate centers on taxpayer funds."},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">14<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fin-depth-school-choice-debate-boils-down-to-taxpayer-dollars%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2042230&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><h2>School Choice \u200bvs.\u200c Public Schools: The Great \u200cDebate<\/h2>\n<p>The ongoing debate between school choice\u2064 and public schools is capturing the nation&#8217;s attention \u200conce again. It&#8217;s a\u200c battle that \u200cultimately comes down to\u2063 how taxpayer dollars should be allocated. <\/p>\n<p>Scott DiMauro, a high school social studies teacher \u200band president of \u2064the Ohio Education Association (OEA), is a staunch advocate for public schools. According to him, the issue\u2064 lies in how public funds are used to support \u2063alternative education options. <\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>&#8220;We have no concerns and fully understand that private \u200dschools have been part of \u200dthe fabric of American education\u200c for centuries, or the idea\u2064 that parents\u2063 have options and can choose to send their kids to public schools, private schools, \u2064or home school their children,&#8221; Mr. DiMauro told The Epoch\u2064 Times. &#8220;The \u2064issue and the \u2062real debate is\u2063 how public taxpayer dollars are used\u200c to\u2063 subsidize those options.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<h2>Related Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/china\/superintendent-ryan-walters-on-ccp-schools-in-america-parents-choice-and-classical-education-5488821?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories\"><strong>Superintendent\u200c Ryan \u200cWalters on CCP Schools in America, Parents&#8217; Choice, and Classical Education<\/strong><\/a>  &#8211; 9\/9\/2023<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/opinion\/progressives-hate-school-choice-until-its-time-to-send-their-kids-to-school-5496042?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories\"><strong>Progressives Hate School Choice Until \u200cIt\u2019s Time to Send Their Kids to\u2063 School<\/strong><\/a>  \u200d- 9\/21\/2023<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The OEA, an affiliate\u2062 of \u200cthe National Education Association, \u2064is one of the oldest teachers unions in the United States. With over 120,000 members and \u2062700\u2062 local affiliates \u200dacross Ohio, the OEA advocates for fair funding of public schools and opposes the use\u2064 of\u200c taxpayer \u2063dollars to \u2064support \u200dprivate school options. <\/p>\n<p>Mr. DiMauro compared \u2062the \u2064situation to building a private road or a swimming\u2063 pool in someone&#8217;s backyard. He believes it is not the responsibility of taxpayers to fund these private ventures. <\/p>\n<h2>&#8216;2 Big Issues&#8217;<\/h2>\n<p>In 2021, Education Next reported that 18 states enacted \u2064new educational choice \u200dprograms, while 21 existing programs were expanded. EdChoice dubbed it \u200c&#8221;The Year of School Choice.&#8221; In 2023, an additional 19 states have also embraced expanding school \u200bchoice\u2062 programs, surpassing the previous record.<\/p>\n<p>Vouchers are the alternative option provided to parents in Ohio. Mr. DiMauro\u200d highlighted two major issues with vouchers. Firstly, as the state spends more on private school vouchers, it essentially subsidizes private school tuition. According to EdChoice, Ohio ranked seventh in state spending for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/4-key-policy-areas-where-the-democratic-leadership-and-black-voters-disagree\/\" title=\"4 Key Policy Areas Where The Democratic Leadership And Black Voters Disagree\">school choice programs<\/a> in 2022, allocating\u2062 $394.3 million in vouchers and tax-credit scholarships.<\/p>\n<p>Secondly, public schools are held\u200b to high\u200b standards of \u200caccountability, while \u2063private \u2064schools receiving significant taxpayer dollars lack the same level\u2062 of transparency and accountability. \u2063 <\/p>\n<h2>Private School Regulation<\/h2>\n<p>Ohio has \u200bextensive regulations\u2063 for private \u200dschools. They \u2062must meet detailed curriculum requirements, and students must pass Ohio graduation tests to graduate. Private schools are also\u200b required to submit annual reports to\u200d parents and \u200dthe Ohio Department of Education to demonstrate compliance with\u2063 minimum standards.<\/p>\n<p>Private schools \u2064typically have boards comprised of founding\u200b members who\u200c aim to maintain the school&#8217;s original mission. This differs from community-elected boards in public schools.\u200b Mr. DiMauro argued that \u2064subsidizing private education\u200d does\u2062 not \u200blead to improved school \u200cperformance, contrary to claims \u2063made by proponents of school choice.<\/p>\n<p>However, a recent analysis by U.S. News &#038;\u200d World Report showed \u200dthat\u200c private school students outperform their public school counterparts\u2063 in various subjects and\u2063 college \u200dentrance exams.<\/p>\n<h2>&#8216;Dire Situations&#8217;<\/h2>\n<p>Georgia state Rep. Mesha Mainor, formerly a Democrat, left the party due to their opposition to school choice. She represents a district in\u2064 Atlanta that is divided by\u2064 socioeconomic\u200b lines. Schools on the higher socioeconomic side are \u2063overcrowded, as parents from the \u2064other\u2062 side of the highway use false\u200b addresses to enroll their children in better-performing schools.<\/p>\n<p>Despite receiving nearly $1.5 billion in\u2062 funding, Atlanta Public Schools have \u200blow proficiency rates \u200cin \u200dmath. \u2062Ms. Mainor expressed \u200bconcerns about the impact of poor education on future job prospects, particularly with the rise of artificial intelligence and automation.<\/p>\n<p>She argued that trapping children in a failing system perpetuates generational\u2064 poverty and\u200b leads to dire consequences such as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/they-only-go-after-donald-trump-trump-releases-lengthy-statement-blasting-investigation-against-his-organization\/\" title=\"\u2018They Only Go After Donald Trump\u2019: Trump Releases Lengthy Statement Blasting Investigation Against His Organization\">high crime rates<\/a> and a \u200cK\u201312-to-prison pipeline.<\/p>\n<h2>&#8216;Teachers Are Fed Up&#8217;<\/h2>\n<p>American Federation of Teachers President \u200dRandi Weingarten compared the language used by school\u2063 choice advocates to that of Jim Crow-era segregationists. \u200cHowever, recent polling shows overwhelming support for school choice among registered voters, including Republicans, Democrats, and independents.<\/p>\n<p>Ms. Mainor believes that \u200cDemocrats oppose school choice due to their\u2064 alignment with teachers&#8217; unions. She emphasized that \u200dmany teachers are frustrated with the system and are \u2063leaving \u2064because they no longer want to be \u200cpart of a failing system that traps children\u200c in\u2062 a\u2062 cycle of poverty.<\/p>\n<h2>By the Numbers<\/h2>\n<p>A RealClear Opinion Research survey revealed that \u200b71 percent of registered voters support parents&#8217; right\u2064 to use tax dollars for their child&#8217;s education. This support cuts across party lines \u200cand racial demographics.<\/p>\n<p>Reports indicate that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/in-depth-school-choice-debate-boils-down-to-taxpayer-dollars\/\" title=\"School choice debate centers on taxpayer funds.\">students entering college\u200c lack basic math skills<\/a>, and academic stagnation\u2064 has\u200c been a long-standing issue. The\u2064 decline in public education cannot be solely attributed to Republicans, as Democrats claim.<\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2> What arguments do supporters of \u2064school choice make\u2063 for diverting taxpayer dollars away from public schools?<\/h2>\n<p><span>  Ecting Dollars Away from Public Schools&#8217;<\/h2>\n<p>Supporters of school choice argue that it allows parents to\u2064 have greater\u2063 control over their children&#8217;s \u2062education\u200b and promotes \u2064competition, which they believe leads\u2064 to improved outcomes. They argue that \u200cpublic schools should not have a monopoly on taxpayer dollars and that parents should\u2064 have\u200b the option to choose the best \u2063educational environment for \u2064their children.<\/p>\n<p>However, critics like\u2063 Mr. DiMauro contend that diverting taxpayer funds to private school options reduces the resources available to public schools. They argue \u200dthat\u200c this can lead to increased class sizes, limited resources, and a \u2062decline in the quality\u200b of education for students who remain in public schools.<\/p>\n<p>According to the National Center for Education Statistics, approximately 90% of U.S. students attend \u200bpublic schools. Critics argue that focusing on improving\u200c and supporting public schools, \u2062rather than\u200c diverting funds to alternative \u2064options, should \u200dbe a top priority to ensure that \u200ball students have access to quality education.<\/p>\n<h2>The Impact on Students<\/h2>\n<p>The debate between\u200b school choice and public \u2062schools ultimately centers around what is in the\u200b best interest of\u200c students. Proponents of school\u2063 choice\u200b argue that \u200dit allows for greater \u2062innovation and customization in education, tailoring the learning experience to the individual\u200d needs\u200c and preferences \u200dof each student.<\/p>\n<p>However, opponents\u200b argue that school choice can lead to greater segregation and inequality \u2064in education. They argue that low-income students,\u200d who\u2064 may not have the same opportunities or resources as their wealthier counterparts,\u2063 may be left behind in\u200d a system that prioritizes choice over equity.<\/p>\n<p>There is \u200congoing research and analysis to determine the impact of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/kids-learn-everywhere\/\" title=\"Kids Learn Everywhere\">school choice policies<\/a> on student outcomes and achievement. It\u2064 is a complex\u2063 issue with varying perspectives and opinions.<\/p>\n<h2>The \u2063Future of the Debate<\/h2>\n<p>The \u200cdebate between school \u2064choice and public schools is likely to continue as policymakers, educators, and parents grapple with \u2062the best way to provide quality education for all students.<\/p>\n<p>As \u200bthe landscape of education continues to evolve, it is \u2064essential to find a balance that ensures adequate\u200d funding \u200cand \u2063support \u200bfor public schools while\u200c also allowing for choice and innovation in education. Finding\u2062 common\u2063 ground and working towards\u2062 shared goals of providing a high-quality\u200d education \u200dfor all students should be the ultimate aim.<\/p>\n<p>While the \u200bdebate may be heated and \u200ccontentious at times,\u2063 it is important to \u200dremember that at the heart of it all\u200c are the students \u200dwho rely on the education system to prepare them for the future.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>School choice or public schools? The nationwide debate rages on. Ultimately, it hinges on differing views on taxpayer funds. Scott DiMauro, high school social studies teacher and president of the Ohio Education Association (OEA), staunchly supports public schools.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":225,"featured_media":2042231,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[543],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2042230","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-epoch-times"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2042230","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/225"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2042230"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2042230\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2042231"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2042230"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2042230"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2042230"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}