Competition and Education Policy The Role of Vouchers and the No Child Left Behind Act

Importance of Education “There is a place in America to take a stand: it is public education. It is the underpinning of our culture and political system. It is the great common ground. Public education after all is the engine that moves us as a society toward a common destiny…It is in public education that the American dream begins to take shape” -Tom Brokaw

Two Functions of Education / Helps to socialize the young into becoming “good citizens” / Prepares people for employment and to be generally productive citizens / Helps to socialize the young into becoming “good citizens” / Prepares people for employment and to be generally productive citizens

Problems of Public Education / Schools are failing to provide a quality education / 37% of all high school seniors can read at their grade level / Achievement gap between black and white students / Schools are failing to provide a quality education / 37% of all high school seniors can read at their grade level / Achievement gap between black and white students

Significant Reform Efforts / Outcomes-Based Education / Improving America’s Schools Act of 1994 / Goals 2000 Educate America Act / Outcomes-Based Education / Improving America’s Schools Act of 1994 / Goals 2000 Educate America Act

4 Categories of Education Reforms / Tinkering with countless gears and levers / Reforming the entire system including academic standards, curriculum, & teacher training / Concentrating on individual schools / Competition or School Choice / Tinkering with countless gears and levers / Reforming the entire system including academic standards, curriculum, & teacher training / Concentrating on individual schools / Competition or School Choice

History of Competition / Thomas Paine / Pierce v. Society of Sisters / Milton Friedman / John Coons & Stephen Sugarman / James Coleman / John Chubb & Terry Moe / Thomas Paine / Pierce v. Society of Sisters / Milton Friedman / John Coons & Stephen Sugarman / James Coleman / John Chubb & Terry Moe

Two Generations of Competition / Market Model-->Economic Efficiency / Opportunity Model-->Social Justice / Market Model-->Economic Efficiency / Opportunity Model-->Social Justice

Types of Voucher Programs / Universal / Targeted / Universal / Targeted

5 Basic Categories of Arguments: / Social Justice/Injustice / Improving Failing Schools &Test Scores / Religious / Economical / Tax Money and Control / Social Justice/Injustice / Improving Failing Schools &Test Scores / Religious / Economical / Tax Money and Control

Social Justice/Injustice For: *All parents want their right to choose *Encourages responsible parenthood *Will promote racial & ethnic integration For: *All parents want their right to choose *Encourages responsible parenthood *Will promote racial & ethnic integration Against: *Some parents not capable of making good decisions *Will promote segregation

Failing Schools & Test Scores For: *Competition will force schools to be accountable & improve test scores For: *Competition will force schools to be accountable & improve test scores Against: *Public schools cannot compete with private schools *Public schools will be left with disadvantaged students

Religious For: *Program without religious schools is no choice at all For: *Program without religious schools is no choice at all Against: *Establishment Clause *Not the original purpose of education *Undermines a religious education

Economical For: *Increase funding for private schools For: *Increase funding for private schools Against: *Drain funds from public school

Tax Money & Control Tax payers lose the right to dictate how public funds should be spent

“The issue is not going to disappear because a few developments in the near term happen to go badly. And it isn’t guaranteed total triumph because a few developments go well. This is a long-term issue, and understanding it requires a long-term perspective.” -Paul E. Peterson “The issue is not going to disappear because a few developments in the near term happen to go badly. And it isn’t guaranteed total triumph because a few developments go well. This is a long-term issue, and understanding it requires a long-term perspective.” -Paul E. Peterson

Milwaukee Voucher Program / Initial program: targeted voucher program / Initial requirements: / Live in Milwaukee / Incomes equal to 175% of poverty level or less / Admissions to private schools could not be based on gender, religion, race, or prior school records / Capped at 1% of the enrollment in Milwaukee Public Schools / Initial program: targeted voucher program / Initial requirements: / Live in Milwaukee / Incomes equal to 175% of poverty level or less / Admissions to private schools could not be based on gender, religion, race, or prior school records / Capped at 1% of the enrollment in Milwaukee Public Schools

Evaluation of Milwaukee Voucher Program / Program too small to have discernible effects on the public school system / Private schools became more financially secure / Four private schools were shut down due to bankruptcy / Only increased the participation of parents that were already highly involved / No academic advantage for students who attended private schools / Program too small to have discernible effects on the public school system / Private schools became more financially secure / Four private schools were shut down due to bankruptcy / Only increased the participation of parents that were already highly involved / No academic advantage for students who attended private schools

Provisions of No Child Left Behind Act / States must implement a set of standards / Testing plan to ensure standards are reached / All students in grades 3-8 must be tested in reading & math each year / An additional test given to students at some point during grades / Test results must be released to public each year / States must implement a set of standards / Testing plan to ensure standards are reached / All students in grades 3-8 must be tested in reading & math each year / An additional test given to students at some point during grades / Test results must be released to public each year

Provisions continued… / Schools not making adequate progress are identified as “in need of improvement”  parents then have the option to send their children to another public school / No progress for 3 years  supplemental services / No progress for 5 years  school is restructured & new personnel is hired / Schools not making adequate progress are identified as “in need of improvement”  parents then have the option to send their children to another public school / No progress for 3 years  supplemental services / No progress for 5 years  school is restructured & new personnel is hired

Problems of NCLB Act 1. Very few students in failing schools are transferring to other schools 2. Lack of funds for transportation 3. Talented teachers steer away from low- performing schools 1. Very few students in failing schools are transferring to other schools 2. Lack of funds for transportation 3. Talented teachers steer away from low- performing schools

“ Yet for all that may be wrong with American public education, it remains the greatest achievement in American history. The United States is the only country to have committed to educating all of its citizens at the public expense.” -Alan Wolfe “ Yet for all that may be wrong with American public education, it remains the greatest achievement in American history. The United States is the only country to have committed to educating all of its citizens at the public expense.” -Alan Wolfe