MA: Mideast Educational Freedom Act (Failed)

[PPT Spiral]

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Sponsor: TJ in Cleve

[Boston Bread]

Why should charter schools specifically be subsidized? I would rather use the money to improve faltering public schools, for example by hiring more teachers.

[TDAS04]

New Canadaland is right.  Taxpayer money should not be spent on charter schools, but public schools need more support.

I oppose the bill.

[TJ in Oregon]

Why should charter schools specifically be subsidized? I would rather use the money to improve faltering public schools, for example by hiring more teachers.

Why not? If they can outperform the public schools, the Mideast Region has a compelling interest in their success: the education of children.

New Canadaland is right.  Taxpayer money should not be spent on charter schools, but public schools need more support.

Again, why not?

The purpose of this bill is to give parents, particularly those of modest means, whose children are in poorly performing schools another option. If this bill passes, it would require the charter schools to achieve above the failing level. This is not a handout to large businesses to come and scam the government out of money. The charter schools are also held accountable.

[PPT Spiral]

This bill has my support.

[🐒Gods of Prosperity🔱🐲💸]

Isn't this more of a voucher system as opposed to a charter school system?

I worry here about the independence of the private schools, if we give them money based on adhering to the public school model of instruction. And if we give money to a school that is religious , then there is no way to get around that money being used for religious instruction (unless we mean schools that just have a vestigial religious affiliation). 

By subsidizing but not paying completely for tuition, there is a tendency for inequality based on ability to pay. I would rather we look into setting up charter schools that are funded directly.

[TJ in Oregon]

Isn't this more of a voucher system as opposed to a charter school system?

I worry here about the independence of the private schools, if we give them money based on adhering to the public school model of instruction. And if we give money to a school that is religious , then there is no way to get around that money being used for religious instruction (unless we mean schools that just have a vestigial religious affiliation). 

This is the problem the 75% funding was designed to sidestep: the 75% is intended to cover the mandated requirements and the remaining 25% from other means used for whatever the school wants to use it for.

[MadmanMotley]

Why is this just for charter schools? If we give vocher for them, then shouldn't we provide the same for private and home schools. Ultimately we should try to revitalize our public schools that are failing, along with offering school alternatives.

[tmthforu94]

Bump for debate

[TDAS04]

I don't see why we can't simply focus on improving our public schools.  Charter schools have been a mistake to begin with, since not only have they not improved education, they are focused on profit, and thus should not be helped by taxpayers.  More public funding for charter schools diverts funds and resources from public schools which could use the assistance.  

[Boston Bread]

To give students in failing public schools I would allow parents to transfer children to other public schools in the case where their current school is failing as well as hire additional teachers in these schools. I wouldn't amend the bill as such because it would destroy what its sponsor intended it to do but if this does not pass I will introduce a bill based on my alternative solution.

[TDAS04]

To give students in failing public schools I would allow parents to transfer children to other public schools in the case where their current school is failing as well as hire additional teachers in these schools. I wouldn't amend the bill as such because it would destroy what its sponsor intended it to do but if this does not pass I will introduce a bill based on my alternative solution.

This makes sense.  Hiring more teachers at public schools will reduce class sizes, and smaller class sizes enable each student to receive more one-on-one assistance from a teacher.

[PPT Spiral]

A final vote will now be held for the next 48 hours. Please vote Aye, Nay, or Abstain.

[PPT Spiral]

Aye

[Boston Bread]

Nay

[🐒Gods of Prosperity🔱🐲💸]

Nay

[MadmanMotley]

Abstain

[PPT Spiral]

By a vote of 1-2-1, the bill has failed.