Thread by @keithmdavenport

How does school choice work? Here's a super brief summary🧵

Basically: instead of the state funding your local public school based on enrollment, it would set aside the per-student $ and connect it directly with your child instead of the school. #ksleg #ksed #novouchers 1/12

https://twitter.com/DerikFler/status/1616292809799258113

Two basic versions of school choice are vouchers (which work like "coupons" worth the amount of per student funding the state has given) and education savings accounts (which work the same way). #ksleg #ksed 2/12

To take advantage of the program, you have to 1) pick another school and 2) be accepted into that school.

But, there are challenges to both of these (read on). #ksleg #ksed 3/12

1st Challenge: picking a school. The majority of public schools are in rural areas, but the majority of private schools are in more populated areas. Urban areas w/ most poverty don't have choices either. Here's a thread to learn more.

https://twitter.com/keithmdavenport/status/1615933104392208384?s=20&t=5N8PzgNayMGRPoUv1QWE5Q

#ksleg #ksed 4/12

The distance to choices is important because transportation isn't provided. So, if you pick a school for your child to attend, you have to get them there.

This immediately limits choice to families with 1) cars 2) time and 3) flexible employment. 5/12 #ksleg #ksed

I have stories to tell about this, but I'll move on for brevity's sake. Challenge 2: Getting accepted.

Most private schools don't accept students on IEPs (Special Education). This immediately counts out 10-25% of Kansas students who will not get a choice. #ksleg #ksed 6/12

If you are in the fortunate few who live close to options, have the car/time/money to provide transportation & don't need special education, you get to use your state voucher/ed account. It will cover SOME of your tuition. You have to pay the rest out of pocket. 7/12 #ksleg #ksed

If you have more than 1 kid, obviously that cost multiplies.

So, for the most part, vouchers are tax breaks for families who can already afford private schools. They're not for the rest of us. 8/12 #ksleg #ksed

Ultimately, #ksed gets worse for the rest of us. The most affluent fams leave pub schools, taking state $ with them. Middle-class fams, those in poverty, those w/ special ed needs & those w/o cars/time/flex jobs will be stuck in their public schools with less funding. 9/12 #ksleg

Example: A public school has 1 teacher/grade level w/ 20 kids in the class. 5 of those kids use the voucher program & leave, but the school still needs the same num of staff, facilities, etc.

Funding is 25% less but expenses remain same. 75% of students lose. #ksleg #ksed 10/12

There is SOME research (mostly from lobby groups) that shows school choice has positive outcomes for a FEW families who can participate.

MOST research shows these programs hurt statewide educational outcomes & increase economic educational disparities. 11/12 #ksleg #ksed

I don't even have time to talk a/b religious schools, the research that shows poorer educational outcomes, the lack of elected school board for accountability, the dark money behind the scenes, what it looks like when education is for profit, etc. 12/12 #ksleg #ksed #novouchers

School choice = inequitable education.

Private corporations and religious organizations profit when the majority of families are left behind in a education system without funding.

It's a bad plan for our kids and our future.

#novouchers #ksleg #ksed 13/12