Over the last few years, the General Assembly has been intent on finding ways to get students out of traditional public schools, approving special education vouchers, expanding virtual campuses and easing the path for charter schools.
Now, in a new twist, state lawmakers are pushing to enable students to return to traditional public schools — after the 3 p.m. dismissal bell.
Three bills this session deal with access to after-school clubs, sports and programs by students outside of the schools. The bill that is advancing, SB 34, was approved by the Senate last week. Sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Chip Rogers, R-Woodstock, it allows students enrolled in other public schools — charters, magnets or virtual campuses — to play sports or join clubs at their local school if those programs are not offered at their own school.
I call this trend the public-school-buffet-line movement, whereby politicians treat public school offerings as a buffet line from which parents can pick the activities that appeal to them. Some public schools in other states permit home-schooled students to drop in for a math or advanced placement U.S. history course or attend field trips.
In arguing for his bill, Rogers maintained that charter and virtual school parents pay taxes, so they’re entitled to after-school chess clubs and soccer teams.
“It is a simple matter of fairness,” Rogers told the Senate. “The parents pay the same taxes. They should be able to use what they are already paying for.”
Under Rogers’ argument, the next logical step — and one that Georgia may see proposed next — would be to open public school extracurriculars to all children. Private school parents also pay school taxes. So do home schooling parents. For that matter, so do residents with no children.
Should any resident be able to check a book out of the middle school library?
Should a child at a private academy be able to join the public school track teams or after-school strings ensembles?
Should home schooled students be able to participate in mock trial teams or drama clubs at their local high school?
Nonpublic students ought to be able to participate, said Sen. David Shafer, R-Duluth, a co-sponsor of SB 34.
“Parents who home school their children or send them to private school free up millions of tax dollars to be spent on the children who remain in public school, reducing class size and making more money available for teacher salaries,” said Shafer in an e-mail. “Why should these children be punished by denying them access to extracurricular activities that their parents’ tax dollars help finance?
But little tax money goes into after-school clubs. It takes silent auctions, pledge drives and bake sales to support them. Some clubs are created and run by parents, while others depend on teacher volunteers.
“Extracurricular activities are subsidized by the taxpayers in that they make use of school buildings, practice fields and stadiums,” said Shafer. “Obviously, if there are dues or fees associated with the extracurricular activities, the home or private school child should have to pay them the same as a public school student.”
But is it fair to ask teachers to donate their time to students outside of their schools?
“I am not sure why the volunteer teachers would not welcome other students from the community the school was set up to serve,” said Shafer. “I am convinced that the students from various educational backgrounds benefit from the interaction with each other, and I am a little surprised you do not see that as a major benefit. It may even be an evangelical opportunity to bring the home and private school children back into the public schools.”
Beyond the financial implications, SB 34 raises safety and logistical concerns, according to principals and teachers. An influx of kids from outside the building for clubs or sports requires someone to manage arrivals and communications.
Georgia High School Association executive director Ralph Swearngin has voiced concerns, noting, “We feel like in order to be on a school team you ought to be a student at the school. And when people make educational choices, there are consequences that come with it.”
But those consequence are unfair, said Sen. Renee Unterman, R-Buford. She co-sponsored SB 34 after a girl who transferred from her local Gwinnett high school to a math and science charter came to her. A passionate lacrosse player, the 15-year-old wanted to continue playing on the team at her former high school since her new school had no team.
“I recognized the minute I heard this that it was unfair,” said Unterman. “How can I not stand up for this one girl?”
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