Debunking the Voucher Smokescreens

 It has been predicted that next week, the anticipated "Education Freedom Act" should hit the committee floors. The release of this administration bill is coming a little later than expected. There is lots of speculation as to the cause for the delay. The overwhelming perspective is that Gov. Lee doesn't have the votes. Backdoor compromises and dirty politics are once again at play to please the deep pockets of out-of- state lobbyists. We have been prepared to expect an omnibus bill that has components to appease public school advocates. It is Lee's hope that he can make some components of this bill so appealing to public school proponents that he gets the vote. I had an elected representative tell me personally that Lee is willing to give us "anything we want in order to get this passed." 

The "Education Freedom Act" is anything but freedom for ALL parents and students. Call it what you want. It is "vouchers for a few." Great time and attention has been taken to create an abundance of smokescreens to gain public agreement. As I watch news shows and hold conversation with various elected officials and stakeholders, it becomes eerily clear that many don't truly understand how vouchers (let's call it what it is) play out in reality.

Let's debunk some myths and smokescreens behind vouchers:

• Myth 1: This is a battle between public vs. private schools. Not true. There are many high quality private schools across the state. There are many families who incorporate homeschool with a high degree of effectiveness. Parent choice already exists, and we completely respect that. However, public dollars should stay with public schools.
• Myth 2: Vouchers provide school choice for all students. Not true. Public schools serve ALL kids. Private schools are private for a reason. They have a certain clientele of students in which they seek to serve. Many have screeners or an admission process to determine if the student fits the mission of the educational program. Many don't take students who have special needs, behavior concerns, or emotional needs. Private schools certainly have the right to choose because they currently don't receive any state/federal money. It should stay that way.
• Myth 3: Voucher students perform better academically than public school students. Not true. Multiple studies in other states show that voucher students do not outperform public school students. The majority of students perform the same or worse than their public school counterparts.  Currently, TN has vouchers in three large urban areas. Commissioner Lizette Reynolds stated that the pilot results "are nothing to write home about." While one can make excuses for this reason, the data is the data. Tennessee has no reliable data that shows that voucher students perform better academically. It is simply fiscally irresponsible to expand a program that has shown no efficacy in our state. 
• Myth 4: Equal playing field for accountability. Not true.  Public schools follow hundreds of state and federal laws dictating instructional minutes, mandated PE time, annual trainings, certification requirements, annual evaluations, standards, curriculum, retention/promotion, mandated summer school, response to intervention, adequate growth, high stakes testing, letter grades......we could go on for pages. What is the accountability for voucher students? Commissioner Reynolds said herself, "the parents are happy." Doesn't sound like a level playing field to me.
• Myth 5: The cost of the voucher pays for private school. Not true. Vouchers will only serve a certain subset of families. The amount is projected to be $7075 per year. This will rarely be enough to cover the complete cost of a high quality private school. The parent is left to cover the gap in the cost. One of my schools is a high poverty school. The majority of those parents would never be able to pay for the gap. This doesn't provide a choice for them. Vouchers serve 2 basic groups: those who can already afford to attend private school and those who can afford the gap. However, my most needy, vulnerable students are left with no choice. This is NOT choice for all.
• Myth 6: Private school tuition stays the same with vouchers. Not true. In the current voucher states, many private schools have raised tuition in approximately the same amount as the voucher. I can't blame them. If I were in their shoes, I might do the same. This increase can be used for enhanced facilities, enhanced sports programs, etc. I recently heard of a local private school that hired a coach for around $120,000, including a condo in which to live. Do we really want our taxpayer money going for things such as this when we have struggling public schools that can barely meet their annual budget? Again, the private school has the right to do this. I am not arguing that. It is matter of tax payer money subsidizing.
• Myth 7: Parents always use the money to enhance their child's education. Not true. Current voucher states report of fraud, waste, and abuse with voucher money. The $7075 would not go straight to the private school. It goes to the parent to use as they see fit for their child's education. It can be used for tuition, transportation, learning devices, books, learning experiences, etc. Other states report where they have seen parents use this money for expensive golf clubs, expensive ski trips, out of country travel....all in the name of an "educational experience." Is this really how we want our taxpayer money to be spent - especially with no academic accountability other than "the parent being happy"?
• Myth 8 - This is a separate pot of money from public education. It won't impact them.  Not true. Public school funding is based on students membership. When a student leaves, the schools lose that money. Students who leave aren't coming from one school or one grade level. They are sprinkled across the district. However, public schools are left to comply with the hundreds of state/federal mandates with less money. Eventually, this will put more pressure on the local communities to fill the gap. 
• Myth 9 - There is a defined pot of money for vouchers that will remain stagnant. Not true. Look at other states. The line item for vouchers has tripled, and even quadrupled, in many voucher states as current private school students access the vouchers. It has crippled the finances in other voucher states who were once fiscally healthy. 
• Myth 10 - Public schools are fully funded. TISA took care of that. Not true. While public schools appreciate the additional funding provided by Gov. Lee, we are a long way from being adequately funded. We remain in the bottom of the nation with public school funding. Yet, if this bill becomes law, eventually the public school drain will be inevitable. If our state has a surplus, why would we not be equipping all public schools with nurses, social workers, guidance counselors, additional tutors, etc? Some legislators are quick to talk about how public schools aren't serving students well, but don't like to talk about how we still remain in the bottom of the nation with public school funding. 
• Myth 11 - Vouchers are a grassroots effort in TN. Not true. There is not an overwhelming public outcry across the state that public schools are failing kids. The general public loves their community schools and are smart enough to know that a high stakes multiple choice test does not define a child or a school. Approximately 80% of voucher students in other states already attended a private school. There is not a mass exodus from public schools. Speaker Cameron Sexton admitted to TSBA (Tennessee School Board Association) that it is projected that only 5% of students will leave TN public schools. He basically admitted that this is not about public school choice. This is about serving private school students who already can afford to go. Regardless of how the program is initially rolled out, Gov. Lee has made it very clear that he wants to expand vouchers to students who are currently attending private schools.
• Myth 12 - If you are a Republican, you are pro-voucher. Not true. When did everything become so heavily embedded into party lines? I'm going to go out on a limb here and say something crazy....... you can be a Republican and still be pro public school! You can be a Republican and still be anti-voucher! This is not a party line issue. These are children. Our children should not be used as political pawns. It is baffling to me that everyone in our state would not rally to provide EVERY CHILD the opportunity for the best public education possible in our great state. As I have stated before, I agree with Gov. Lee on many things. This is just not one of them. We have the freedom to support an elected official and party, but that doesn't mean we are imprisoned to every idea or belief that they have. 
• Myth 13 - It is not one or the other, it is both. We can support public schools and vouchers at the same time. Not true. You can't say that you are truly for public education, "the Great Equalizer," when you are supporting a program that does not provide equity for all students. You are choosing to offer a program to some kids while denying others the same opportunity. Parent choice already exists, and it should. However, public dollars should stay with public schools for the greater public good of ALL.  Instead of furthering the divide, we should be combining our collective efforts to truly address the issues that are holding public education back. 

I am a product of public schools. My father grew up in extreme poverty. Vouchers would have never been a choice for him. His parents couldn't afford a roof over their head or food. They would not have been able to pay the "gap" for a private school. He was smart enough to know that education was his way out of poverty. If it would not have been for public schools, he would have continued the cycle of poverty. He was a highly successful individual who greatly contributed to the community.  I am the beneficiary of his hard work and the hard work of public schools. All public school advocates want what is best for all students. If the data clearly showed that vouchers was in the best interest of all kids, I would be the first one to stand up and proudly support. But sometimes, things don't play out the way we think they should. Sometimes, our good intentions aren't so good when actually implemented. 

We are at a critical time in Tennessee. We must learn from other states. We must stand up for our most vulnerable students. That is what we do in public education. Public education has historically been the "great equalizer" in our nation. We have work to do in public education. We always will. I am a firm believer in continuous improvement. However, I cannot jump on board with a program that has not exhibited effectiveness and does not serve each and every one my students. It may look good on paper, but reality states otherwise.

It will be interesting to see how our local elected officials vote when the time comes. If you are an elected official and you vote for vouchers, I respectfully request that you not come to public schools for assemblies and public events. Please don't use our precious children as a platform for a photo op when you haven't fought for all of them. In reality, vouchers simply don't play out in a fair way for all. I need you answering to my most vulnerable kids, not a political agenda.