Gov. Scott Walker has proposed expanding the Milwaukee school voucher program to Green Bay, Racine and Beloit, and that’s most assuredly the start of a discussion about an even bigger expansion.
Indeed, why stop there?
Check out the story here, and a story on the mixed response here.
Simply, Walker is suggesting that taxpayer money be used to send local students to private schools in more than just the City of Milwaukee — a program that itself is being expanded under a bill co-sponsored by South Milwaukee Rep. Mark Honadel.
I’m wondering what you think about this. Would you like to see school choice brought to communities like South Milwaukee? Would you like to see the City of Milwaukee’s school voucher program expanded?
Post your comments below, and vote in the poll question on the right-hand side of this page.
I am lukewarm on school choice at best.
I have a hard time buying the argument that taking kids out of the public school system will somehow save the public school system. Why not invest in the system itself? Here’s why: Commiting to real solutions to make things better inside MPS is hard. Taking kids out of the system and sending them outside the district is easy, and it avoids the problem. Let’s stop avoiding the problem.
I also do not support increasing the income limits for families to participate in the City of Milwaukee program. The program was meant to help low-income students, those who may not have the means to afford sending their children to private schools, and that is where the focus should be. I am with Howard Fuller, the founder of school choice, on this one.
As to allowing Milwaukee students to attend schools across the county, I am OK with that. If you are going to offer true choice to city students, then they should able to pick from a broader list of options (including perhaps some in South Milwaukee).
But let me be clear: I do not support expanding school choice to other communities, be it Green Bay or South Milwaukee. The program was formed to help certain students in the failing Milwaukee Public Schools system to find a better education, and it should stay there.
First of all, there is no clear evidence that the program actually works — and by “works” I mean delivers better results. Early studies, in fact, have shown that achievement may not be any better for voucher students than non-voucher students. Until there is a clear benefit in this area, why expand the program to other cities?
And as to South Milwaukee, I don’t see a need for school choice here. As I have written about, I think we have a first-class school system that I am proud to send my 6-year-old to. My wife and I have the means to send our children to private schools, but we have made our “school choice,” and it’s the South Milwaukee school system.
Giving incentives for people to do otherwise is wrong.
South Milwaukee Blog 