Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin

(114,791 posts)
Thu Jul 11, 2024, 07:04 PM Jul 2024

The GOP platform calls for 'universal school choice.' What would that mean for students?

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — National Republicans are poised to support “universal school choice” as part of the policy platform they adopt at next week’s convention in Milwaukee, a goal supporters see as the culmination of decades advocating for parents’ autonomy to pick their children’s schools. To opponents, it's a thinly veiled blueprint for gutting public education.

The term can mean different things to different people — from erasing school boundaries, to open enrollment, to being able to curate your child’s individual curriculum, to parental control over K-12 course content.

But education experts across the political spectrum interpret the GOP platform’s wording as favoring the type of approach adopted in states like West Virginia and Ohio, which make available taxpayer-funded vouchers, or scholarships, that can follow a child regardless of income to any public or private school.

“In our way of thinking, this is kind of your money, your children and your choice for where they want to go to school,” said Lisa B. Nelson, CEO of the American Legislative Exchange Council, which launched an Education Freedom Alliance in January to fight for just that. About a dozen states now have such programs, and proposals are in play in another 16, according to the alliance.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/gop-platform-calls-universal-school-183507175.html

7 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
The GOP platform calls for 'universal school choice.' What would that mean for students? (Original Post) Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin Jul 2024 OP
It means death to public education Raven123 Jul 2024 #1
It means all classrooms hang the Ten Commandments in the same place. bucolic_frolic Jul 2024 #2
In practice? No education unless you can afford private school getagrip_already Jul 2024 #3
Poor and special needs hibbing Jul 2024 #4
It's Parochi-Aid, funding religious schools from public tax dollars. no_hypocrisy Jul 2024 #5
It means looting public school funding to corporate owned "for profit" schools. GoodRaisin Jul 2024 #6
Straight from Project 2025 Blue Full Moon Jul 2024 #7

getagrip_already

(17,396 posts)
3. In practice? No education unless you can afford private school
Thu Jul 11, 2024, 07:10 PM
Jul 2024

Or can be home schooled in a networked environment.

Of course, that will only be available to the elite.

Religious schools will teach, but not educate.

hibbing

(10,401 posts)
4. Poor and special needs
Thu Jul 11, 2024, 07:16 PM
Jul 2024

Publics schools will be left with the poor and those with special needs while tax money gets siphoned off to private schools.

Peace

no_hypocrisy

(48,640 posts)
5. It's Parochi-Aid, funding religious schools from public tax dollars.
Thu Jul 11, 2024, 07:21 PM
Jul 2024

Bad enough that charter schools have siphoned desperately needed funds from public schools.

Public funds will subsidize schools that may or may not provide deficient education and promote religious dogma, not critical thinking. And simultaneously, public schools will not be able to pay sufficient salary to their teachers and lead to crowded classrooms as their ranks are reduced, due to budget cuts. Some districts are hanging on by their proverbial fingernails.

The Enduring Controversy: Parochiaid and the Law
https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/303858252.pdf

Latest Discussions»Editorials & Other Articles»The GOP platform calls fo...