Different Types of Schools School Funding

Public Schools

Established by states (10th Amendment)

Paid for by tax dollars

Usually run by local board of elected officials

Open to all students who live in the district

Subject to all federal anti-discrimination laws IDEA

Title IX

Private Schools

Privately owned and operated Religious (parochial) schools

Montessori Schools

Independent Foundations

Schools for profit

Paid for by donations/tuition

Can select which students attend

Do not have to adhere to federal anti-discrimination regulations

Magnet Schools

Public Schools

Focus on particular area of study to attract students

Many were originally created for the purpose of voluntary desegregation

May have competitive entrance process

Charter Schools

Publicly funded; operated independently

Operates under a charter, or contract, with the state

Subject to all federal anti-discrimination regulations

Open to all students who seek enrollment

Free of charge

Have more freedom than public schools in curriculum

Still accountable for results– charter is renewed periodically

Created by educators who envision a school committed to a particular purpose and philosophy

Currently allowed in 40 states and D.C.

Homeschooling

Choosing to educate students at home rather than in a public or private school

Parents select the curriculum

May be done with internet, correspondence, or independent instruction

No state funding is given to parents choosing to homeschool their children

Parents do not need to be certified teachers

Idaho does not check on academic progress

Other

Dual enrollment: students take some courses with the public school but is otherwise homeschooled

Dual Credit: students in high school enroll in a class which operates in conjunction with a college class. Students receive college credit for lower fees

Virtual Schools: for profit schools which offer on-line classes

School Funding

In Idaho, school funding has lost $200 million in the past two years, with additional cuts slated for 2012

In 2005, the Idaho Supreme Court found that school funding was insufficient and unconstitutional

Vouchers: certificate by which parents are given the ability to pay for the education of their children at a school of their choice, either public or private

Legalities

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled vouchers constitutional in 2002

Currently only five states– Maine, Ohio (Cleveland only) Vermont, Utah and Wisconsin (Milwaukee only) and the District of Columbia have voucher programs

Florida had one until state supreme court threw it out in 2006

Arguments for Vouchers

Rich parents have a choice of schools for their kids; poor parents should have the same choice.

Competition between schools is increased, leading to greater efficiency and results in all schools.

Private schools have a better history of getting results than public schools.

Those parents who send their kids to private schools still have to pay taxes for public schools as well.

Providing private school access to everyone will increase diversity.

The parent makes the choice between religious or non-religious schooling; thus the government isn’t imposing religion.

Arguments against vouchers

Since most of the schools in the program are religious, government funding violates the 1st Amendment separation of church and state.

Vouchers take funds away from already underfunded public schools.

Private schools aren’t accountable to any oversight organization; they do not have to follow State or Federal regulations for accountability and testing.

Public schools must accept everyone regardless of disabilities, test scores, religion, or other characteristics; private schools can show favoritism or discrimination in selecting students.

Tuition Tax Credits

Essentially the same thing as vouchers, only with a set amount of tax deduction given for tuition paid to private schools.

Currently available in Minnesota, Iowa, Arizona, Florida, Illinois, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island.