AJC.com > Blogs > Get Schooled > Archives > 2007 > January > 23
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
The ‘V’ Word
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Lately, I’ve been talking to folks in education policy about a legislative movement to bring government-funded, private school tuition vouchers to Georgia. Writing my latest piece, it occurred to me that the law on government support for private and parochial schools is as muddy as immigration policy.
Some avid public school supporters oppose vouchers because they don’t want limited tax dollars diverted to private campuses, which don’t adhere to the same accountability measures as public schools, or because they don’t think the government should fund religious instruction.
But state officials routinely fund free pre-kindergarten programs for 4-year-olds who attend church-run classes as well as HOPE and other tuition grants for college students who enroll in private — including religious — institutions. Much of that money comes from the Lottery, but some comes from taxes. Some K-12 students who attend private schools also participate in federally funded education programs (there’s that taxpayer money, again), sometimes on their own campuses.
So, why do vouchers spark such fierce debate when other publicly funded, privately run education programs are acceptable?
UPDATE: I had reported in my story that no hearing had been scheduled yet for the special-needs scholarship bill. I was wrong. The Senate Education and Youth Committee will hold a hearing Thursday.
